HER    OWN    WAY 


Her  Own  Way 


A    PLAY   IN    FOUR    ACTS 


By 
CLYDE     FITCH 


THE    MACMILLAN    COMPANY 

NEW  YORK         MCMFII 

LONDON:     MACMILLAN     &     CO.,     LTD. 


COPYRIGHT,  1907, 
BY  THE  MACMILLAN   COMPANY. 

ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED. 


Set  up  and  electrotyped.     Published  April,  1907. 


All  acting  rights,  both  professional  and  amateur,  are  reserved  by  Clyde 
Fitch.  Performances  forbidden  and  right  of  representation  reserved. 
Application  for  the  right  of  performing  this  piece  must  be  made  to  The 
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in  accordance  with  the  penalties  provided  by  the  United  States  Stat 
utes:  — 

"SEC.  4966.  —  Any  person  publicly  performing  or  representing  any 
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formance,  as  to  the  Court  shall  appear  to  be  just.  If  the  unlawful  per 
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liress 

J.  8.  Gushing  &  Co.  —  Berwick  &  Smith  Co. 
Norwood,  Mass.,  U.S.A. 


/ 


TO 

MAXINE   ELLIOTT 

AND  EVERYTHING   IS   SAID! 

C.  F.     1907 


HER  OWN  WAY 


ACT  I.    THE  PLAYROOM. 

Ten  days  elapse. 

ACT  II.    THE  DRAWING-ROOM. 

Eight  months  elapse. 

ACT  III.    GEORGIANA'S  ROOM. 

Four  weeks  elapse. 

ACT  IV.    THE  DRAWING-ROOM. 


PLACE  —  NEW  YORK. 


vii 


THE  PEOPLE  IN  THE  PLAY 


GEORGIANA  CARLEY. 
MRS.  CARLEY  .  .  . 
MRS.  STEVEN  CARLEY  . 


PHILIP 

CHRISTOPHER  r  "  "  ' 
TOOTS 

ELAINE 

LIZZIE 

Miss  BELLA  SHINDLE 
LIEUTENANT  RICHARD 
SAM  COAST  .  .  .  . 
STEVEN  CARLEY  .  . 

MOLES 

A  FOOTMAN  .    .    .    . 


Her  step-mother. 

Her  sister-in-law,  born   "Coast," 

and  daughter  of  Mrs.  Carley  by 

a  former  marriage. 

Children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steven 
Carley. 

From  next  door. 
Mrs.  Carley's  maid. 
"  The  Lady  Hair-dresser." 
COLEMAN. 

Louise  Carley's  own  cousin. 
Georgiana's  brother. 
Butler  to  the  Carleys. 
At  the  Carleys. 


IX 


Produced  at  the  Star  Theatre,  Buffalo,  Septem 
ber  24,  1903,  and  on  September  28,  1903,  at  the 
Garrick  Theatre,  New  York,  with  the  following 
cast :  — 

Georgiana  Carley Miss  Maxine  Elliott 

Mrs.  Carley Miss  Eva  Vincent 

Mrs.  Steven  Carley Miss  Nellie  Thome 

Philip Master  Donald  Gallaher 

Christopher Miss  Beryl  Morse 

Toots Miss  Mollie  King 

Elaine Miss  Marie  Hirsch 

Lizzie Miss  Susanne  Perry 

Miss  Bella  Shindle Miss  Georgie  Lawrence 

Lieutenant  Richard  Coleman      .     .     .     Mr.  Charles  Cherry 

Sam  Coast Mr.  Arthur  Byron 

Steven  Carley Mr.  R.  C.  Herz 

Moles Mr.  Francklyn  Hurleigh 

Footman  ,    .     .    ,  .  Mr.  B.  M.  Parmenter 


Produced  at  the  Lyric  Theatre,  London,  in 
May,  1905,  and  afterward  at  the  Savoy  Theatre, 
London,  with  the  following  cast :  — 

Georgiana  Carley Miss  Maxine  Elliott 

Mrs.  Carley Mrs.  Fanny  Addison  Pitt 

Mrs.  Steven  Carley Miss  Nellie  Thorne 

Philip Master  Donald  Gallaher 

Christopher Miss  Beryl  Morse 

Toots Miss  Mollie  King 

Elaine Miss  Marie  Hirsch 

Lizzie Miss  Susanne  Perry 

Miss  Bella  Shindle Miss  Georgie  Lawrence 

Lieutenant  Richard  Coleman     .     .     .      Mr.  Charles  Cherry 

Sam  Coast  .     .     .     .     : Mr.  James  Carew 

Steven  Carley Mr.  R.  C.  Herz 

Moles Mr.  Francklyn  Hurleigh 

Footman  .  Mr.  B.  M.  Parmenter 


xiii 


ACT  I 

The  nursery.  Half-past  two  in  the  afternoon.  A 
cool,  delightful  white  room,  with  a  frieze  of  chil 
dren  playing  in  the  ocean  spray;  shelves  of 
bright-colored  books  on  the  walls,  and  the  months 
of  a  large  calendar  by  Elizabeth  Shippen  Green 
framed  underneath.  There  is  a  deep  bow-window 
at  the  back;  the  principal  door  is  at  the  Left,  and  a 
smaller  one  on  the  Right.  Toys  of  all  sizes,  for 
all  ages,  are  scattered  about  with  a  holiday  air. 
There  is  a  sofa  on  the  Right  and  a  hobby  horse 
on  the  Left. 

There  are  four  charming  though  somewhat  spoiled 
children,  with  intermittent  manners,  with  napkins 
tied  up  under  their  chins,  sitting  around  the  table, 

B  I 


.•2    '          ':  ;'•'-,  ,     HER   OWN   WAY 

which  is  a  little  to  the  right  of  the  centre  of  the 
room. 

The  FOOTMAN  is  busy  removing  the  plates;  the 
butler,  MOLES,  who  stands  behind  PHILIP, 
always  takes  PHILIP'S  plate.  It  is  PHILIP'S 
birthday.  LIZZIE  stands  behind  ELAINE.  In 
the  centre  oj  the  table  is  a  large  cake  with  seven 
candles  burning  on  it. 

PHILIP.   What  comes  next? 

CHRISTOPHER.   Soup ! 

[LizziE  and  MOLES  suppress  smiles,  exchanging 
looks  of  delighted  appreciation  of  CHRISTO 
PHER'S  humor. 

TOOTS.    Ice  cream ! 

ELAINE.  Don't  be  absurd,  Christopher,  we've 
had  soup. 

CHRISTOPHER.  I  like  it! 


HER   OWN   WAY  3 

TOOTS.   I  like  ice  cream ! 

ELAINE.   [To  TOOTS.]  Sh! 

PHILIP.   What  comes  next,  Moles? 

MOLES.   I  don't  know,  sir. 

[He  goes  out. 

ELAINE.     T'ain't    manners    to    ask,    anyway, 
Phil. 

PHILIP.   Who  cares!    It's  my  birthday! 

CHRISTOPHER.   When  will  it  be  my  birthday? 

[  The  FOOTMAN  reenters  with  plates,  followed  by 
MOLES,  with  silver  dish  of  croquettes. 

PHILIP.   Here  it  comes;   what  is  it? 

MOLES.   Chicken  croquettes,  sir. 

PHILIP.   Left  overs!    Had  chicken  yesterday! 
Bring  'em  here  first ! 

MOLES.  No,  ladies  first,  sir. 

[Serves  ELAINE. 

LIZZIE.  And  besides,  Miss  Elaine  is  company. 


4  HER    OWN   WAY 

[MOLES  serves  CHRISTOPHER. 
PHILIP.   That's   all   right.     S'long   it's   Elaine, 
everything  goes ! 
ELAINE.   Phil! 
[Sliding  down  from  her  chair,  she  runs  to  him 

and  kisses  him. 

PHILIP.   [Hopelessly  embarrassed.]  Don't!    not 
in  front  of  everybody! 

ELAINE.    But  I  do  love  you,  Phil,  and  you're 
my  beau,  and  I'm  so  glad  it's  your  birthday. 
[Goes  back  to  her  place  unashamed  and  contented. 
[MOLES  serves  PHILIP. 

LIZZIE.   You  oughtn't  to  talk  about  beaux  at 
your  age,  Miss  —  ought  Miss  Elaine? 

[To  MOLES  with  a  knowing  glance. 
MOLES.    I  ain't  discussing  the  sex  with  you, 
Lizzie,  but  I  will  say  all  the  girls  I've  known,  began 
talking  about  beaux  early  and  ended  late. 


HER   OWN   WAY  5 

CHRISTOPHER.  I  heard  Lizzie  and  Moles  talking 
about  Aunt  Georgiana's  beau! 

LIZZIE.   Sh ! 

[FOOTMAN  goes  out  with  the  croquette  dish. 

ELAINE.  Mr.  Dick  Coleman's  Miss  Carley's 
beau ! 

PHILIP.  No,  he  isn't !  Mr.  Dick's  known  Aunt 
Georgiana  always,  they're  just  little  boy  and  girl 
friends.  Lizzie  says  she's  Cousin  Sammy  Coast's 
sweetheart. 

LIZZIE.  [Indignant,  though  convulsed.]  I  never 
did! 

PHILIP.  Yes,  you  did!  To  Maggie  when  you 
thought  I  wasn't  paying  attention. 

[LizziE  and  MOLES  exchange  amused  glances. 

ELAINE.  But  Mr.  Coast's  your  auntie's  cousin; 
and  your  cousin  can't  be  your  beau. 

PHILIP.   He  ain't  any  relation  to  Auntie  Geor- 


6  HER   OWN   WAY 

giana.  Mamma  said  so.  Mr.  Coast's  mamma's 
cousin,  and  grandma's  nephew,  but  grandma  isn't 
any  real  relation  to  auntie. 

CHRISTOPHER.   How? 

PHILIP.   I  don't  know  how,  only  Aunt  Georgiana 
had  a  different  mamma,  she  didn't  have  grandma. 

ELAINE.   And  the  same  papa ! 

PHILIP.   Not  all  the  time,  mamma  had  another 
papa  first. 

CHRISTOPHER.   It's  sort  of  mixy,  isn't  it? 

PHILIP.   Yes,  I  guess  mamma  and  Aunt  Georgy 
are  sort  of  divorced  sisters! 

ELAINE.   Oh! 

[/Is  if  that  explained  it. 

TOOTS.   [Beating  the  table.]   Lemmlelade !  lemm- 
lelade! 

[MOLES  crosses  to  pitcher  and  serves  TOOTS  first, 
then  the  others,. 


HER   OWN   WAY  7 

PHILIP.   Toots,  you're  getting  tipsy ! 

[The  children  laugh. 

CHRISTOPHER.  Cousin  Sammy  comes  to  see 
Aunt  Georgiana  nearly  every  day. 

PHILIP.  Yes  —  he's  begun  to  bring  toys  just 
like  some  of  the  others  did. 

CHRISTOPHER.  [With  his  mouth  full.]  Hobby 
horse!  Hobby  horse! 

[Pointing  to  the  hobby  horse. 

LIZZIE.  Don't  talk  with  your  mouth  full, 
Mr.  Christopher. 

PHILIP.   [Shouting.]  He'll  choke!    He'll  choke! 
[All  laugh,  tremendously  amused. 

MOLES.   Mr.  Coast  is  a  very  fine  gentleman. 

PHILIP.  Oh,  I  know!  I  saw  him  give  you  a 
dollar  the  other  day,  when  he  came  to  see  auntie, 
and  you  advised  his  waiting  and  said  auntie'd  be 
in  by  five. 


8  HER   OWN  WAY 

LIZZIE.   Isn't  he  a  case ! 

MOLES.   He  certainly  is. 

[Returns  pitcher  to  table  on  the  Left. 

CHRISTOPHER.  I  like  Mr.  Dick  best.     He's  al 
ways  taking  us  places  and  things. 

TOOTS.   [Who  has  finished  his  croquette  and  is 
now  ready  for  conversation.]  Um !     Circus ! 

PHILIP.   And  not  just  'cause  he's  stuck  on  auntie. 

MOLES.  You  oughtn't  to  use  that  expression, 
Mr.  Philip. 

PHILIP.  Why  not!  you  do.  I  heard  you  tell 
Lizzie  you  were  stuck  on  her  last  Sunday. 

LIZZIE.   [Blushing.]   Oh,  my ! 

CHRISTOPHER.   Mr.  Dick's  a  soldier! 

PHILIP.  Yes,  siree !  He  helped  stop  a  strike  of 
street  cars  in  Brooklyn.  His  name  was  in  the 
papers ! 

CHRISTOPHER.   He  was  hurted  bad,  and  if  he 


HER   OWN  WAY  9 

was  dead,  he'd  have  a  monnyment  with  "Hero" 
embroidered  on  it.    Aunt  Georgiana  said  so ! 

ELAINE.   I  should  think  Miss  Georgiana  was  too 
old,  anyway,  to  have  beaux. 

CHRISTOPHER.   Oh,  awful  old ! 

LIZZIE.   Oh !   Miss  Carley  isn't  so  old ! 

PHILIP.   Yes,  she  is,  too !    She's  our  old  maid 
aunt. 

ELAINE.  If  she  wasn't  old,  she'd  be  married. 
It  must  be  awful  to  be  so  old. 

PHILIP.   She's  nearly  thirty,  I  guess. 

ALL  THE  CHILDREN.   Oh ! 

[Loud  and  long. 

CHRISTOPHER.  You'll    be    deader    soon    after 
thirty,  won't  you? 

TOOTS.    [Crying.]  I  don't  want  Auntie  Geor 
giana  to  be  a  deader ! 

PHILIP.   [Bored.]  Shut  up ! 


io  HER   OWN   WAY 

LIZZIE.  [Comes  to  TOOTS  and  comjorts  him.} 
Toots,  dear! 

PHILIP.  I'm  glad  Aunt  Georgiana's  an  old 
maid,  'cause  I  don't  want  her  to  leave  us. 

[FOOTMAN  enters  and  stands  at  the  Right.] 
She  gave  me  my  birthday  party. 

MOLES.  Yes,  and  this  whole  house'd  miss  your 
aunt,  I  can  tell  you  that,  Mr.  Philip.  [Takes 
away  the  plates.]  She  just  keeps  things  going 
smooth  with  everybody. 

PHILIP.  I  told  her  I  saw  you  kiss  Lizzie  on  the 
back  stairs,  Saturday. 

MOLES.   What! 

[Gives  dishes  to  the  FOOTMAN. 

LIZZIE.   He  didn't !    He  didn't ! 

PHILIP.  Yes,  that's  what  Aunt  Georgiana  said, 
but  I  know  better,  and  so  does  she,  I  guess ! 

LIZZIE.   Isn't  he  a  case ! 


HER    OWN   WAY  II 

[MOLES  goes  out  with  the  FOOTMAN. 
PHILIP.   Now  what? 
CHRISTOPHER.   Soup! 
PHILIP.   Ice  cream !    I  want  ice  cream ! 
LIZZIE.   Sh! 

ELAINE.   My   mamma   don't    let   my   brothers 
behave  so  at  the  table. 

PHILIP.   Neither    don't    we,    'cept    our    birth 
days. 

[MOLES  r centers  with  a  tray  and  plates. 
CHRISTOPHER.   What  is  it? 
PHILIP.   [Screams.]  Eeh!    Ice  cream!    It's  ice 
cream ! 

LIZZIE.   Sh! 

PHILIP.   Go  ahead,  dish  it  out! 

[Laughs. 

[MOLES   serves  ice  cream  to   ELAINE,   then  to 
PHILIP,  TOOTS,  and  CHRISTOPHER. 


12  HER   OWN   WAY 

CHRISTOPHER.  Mr.  Dick  Coleman  is  gooder  as 
Cousin  Sammy  Coast. 

ELAINE.   Aunt  Georgiana  is  goodest  as  him ! 

CHRISTOPHER.  Aunt  Georgiana  is  gooder  as 
mamma ! 

TOOTS.   And  most  goodest  as  grandma. 

[LizziE  exchanges  a  glance  with  MOLES  and  goes 
out  Right. 

PHILIP.    Grandma !    Rats ! 

MOLES.   [To  PHILIP.]  Sh ! 

PHILIP.  [Shouts.]  Stop,  Chris!  He's  taking 
too  much  ice  cream ! 

ALL  THE  CHILDREN.   Chris !  Chris ! 

[ They  keep  up  the  clamor,  laughing  and  shouting, 
till  LIZZIE  comes  back. 

LIZZIE.   Children !   here  comes  grandma. 

PHILIP.   [Disgusted.]   Oh,  pshaw ! 

CHRISTOPHER.   Don't  want  grandma. 


HER   OWN  WAY  13 

LIZZIE.   Sh! 

[MRS.  CARLEY  comes  in  from  the  Right.    She  is  a 
middle-aged  woman,   of  faded  prettiness   and 
frivolous    manner.    Every    line    and    bit    of 
character  has  been  massaged  out  of  her  face. 
There  is  a  sudden,  embarrassed,  and  gloomy 
silence  on  the  part  of  the  children. 
MRS.  CARLEY.   Well,  children,  having  a  lovely 
party  ? 

PHILIP.    [Grudgingly.]  Yes,  ma'am ! 
ELAINE.   [Politely.]  Yes,  ma'am. 
CHRISTOPHER.   Aunt  Georgiana's  party ! 
MRS.  CARLEY.   Yes,  dear,  it's  too  bad  mamma  is 
ill  in  bed.     She  says  when  you  are  all  through,  you 
may  come  up  and  say  how  do  you  do,  while  she 
kisses  Phil.   [Silence.]  That  will  be  nice,  won't  it  ? 
PHILIP.    [Grudgingly.]  Yes,  ma'am. 
ELAINE.  Yes,  ma'am. 


14  HER   OWN   WAY 

CHRISTOPHER.   Yes,  ma'am. 

TOOTS.   No! 

MRS.  CARLEY.   We  are  glad  you  could  come  in, 
Elaine,  and  help  celebrate  Philip's  birthday. 

ELAINE.   Thank  you,  ma'am! 

[TooTS  is  mashing  his  ice  cream  strenuously  with 
a  spoon. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Toots !    don't  be  naughty  and 
don't  mash  your  ice  cream  up  like  that. 

TOOTS.  I  like  it. 

CHRISTOPHER.   Me  too  —  it  makes  soup! 

[Copying  TOOTS. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Your  collar's  crooked,  Chris. 

[Arranging  it. 

CHRISTOPHER.   Ouch! 

[Squirming. 

MRS.   CARLEY.   Phil,  shall  grandma  cut  your 
cake  for  you  ? 


HER   OWN   WAY  15 

PHILIP.   No,  ma'am,  Auntie  Georgiana's  going  ^ 
to  cut  it. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Oh,  very  well.  How's  your 
mamma,  Elaine?  Is  she  going  to  the  big  ball 
to-morrow  ? 

ELAINE.   Yes,  ma'am. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  We  feel  dreadfully.  Philip's 
mamma's  illness  prevents  our  going. 

ELAINE.   Mamma  said  you  weren't  invited. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Pats  PHILIP  on  the  head,  to 
his  great  disgust  and  discomfort.}  Your  mamma 
had  better  mind!  Your  mamma  is  mistaken! 
Good-by,  children,  grandma  is  sorry  she  can't 
stay  and  have  a  good  time  with  you.  I  am  going 
to  call,  Elaine,  on  the  Countess  of  Worling,  Mrs. 
Tom  Cooley's  daughter.  I  don't  think  your  mother 
knows  them.  Good-by,  dears,  enjoy  yourselves. 

[She  goes  out  Left. 


16  HER   OWN   WAY 

[Silence  till  the  door  is  well  shut  behind  grandma, 
and  then  the  children  break  out  with  shouts, 
all  of  them,  of  "Good-by,  Grandma.   Good-by," 
repeated  ad  lib.     Then  they  calm  down. 
PHILIP.   Bully!    Grandma's  gone! 
CHRISTOPHER.   Ice  cream ! 
ALL    THE    CHILDREN.   More    ice   cream!    Ice 
cream ! 
PHILIP.   Let's  see. 

[MOLES  hands  him  the  ice  cream  dish. 
CHRISTOPHER.   [To  PHILIP.]   Can  I  have  some 
more,  or  will  it  make  me  sick? 

PHILIP.  [Serves  the  children.]  No,  there's  plenty. 
When  there  isn't  enough,  mamma  always  says  it 
will  make  us  sick. 

CHRISTOPHER.  And  papa  —  when  we  have 
company  unexpected,  and  there  isn't  enough  of 
anything,  papa  always  says  F.H.B. 


HER    OWN  WAY  17 

PHILIP.  F.H.B. 

ELAINE.   Why? 

CHRISTOPHER.  He  says  it  means  Family  Hold 
Back,  and  we  all  have  to  say  "No,  thank  you," 
when  it  comes  around!  Do  you  like  grandma, 
Phil? 

PHILIP.  Naw!   Grandma's  no  good. 

[MOLES  goes  out  with  the  empty  ice  cream  dish. 

TOOTS.   No  good,  grandma  ! 

[A  knock  outside  the  door  Left. 

GEORGIANA.   [Outside.]  Hello!    Hello! 

PHILIP.   [Delighted.]  Aunt  Georgiana! 

ALL  THE  CHILDREN.   Aunt  Georgiana ! 

GEORGIANA.  [Outside.]  Is  this  a  private  room 
at  Sherry's,  or  may  an  old  maid  aunt  come 
in? 

ALL.  No!    Yes!    Come   in  — come   on   in! 

[They  clatter  on  the  table  with  their  spoons,  and 


i8  HER  OWN  WAY 

shout  "Hurrah!  Aunt  Georgianal"  as  GEOR- 
GIANA  enters.  She  is  a  beautiful  creature, 
about  thirty,  and  in  the  very  height  of  health 
and  spirits  —  an  American  Beauty  rose  the 
moment  before  it  opens.  She  is  -flushed 
after  her  quick  walk  in  the  bracing,  sunshiny 
winter's  day.  No  wonder  the  children  —  and 
others  —  adore  her  ! 

GEORGIANA.  What  a  good  time ! 

CHRISTOPHER.   Oh,  we're  having  the  beautiful- 
est  time,  Auntie ! 

PHILIP.   Great ! 

ELAINE.   Perfectly  lovely ! 

TOOTS.   Um !    Ice  cream !     Lots ! 

GEORGIANA.  That's  good!    Stuff  all  you  can, 
Toots!    Are  you  ready  to  cut  the  cake? 

ALL  THE  CHILDREN.  Yes !    Yes ! 

PHILIP.   We  waited  for  you. 


HER   OWN   WAY  19 

CHRISTOPHER.   We  wouldn't  let  grandma. 

[GEORGIANA   drops  her  furs  on  the  sofa   and 
then  comes  to  the  table. 

GEORGIANA.  There's  a  ring  in  it.  Whoever 
gets  it  will  be  married  in  a  year. 

[Starts  to  cut  the  cake. 

TOOTS.   I  want  the  ring ! 

PHILIP.   Hush  up,  you're  only  a  baby ! 

[A  loud  knock  on  the  door  Left. 

GEORGIANA.  Oh,  yes,  I  forgot.  Cousin  Sam 
wants  to  wish  you  many  happy  returns,  Philip. 
May  he  come  in  ? 

PHILIP.   Pshaw !    Another  man ! 

CHRISTOPHER.  [In  a  "  stagewhisper  "  to  ELAINE.] 
He's  the  one  —  auntie's  sweetheart ! 

GEORGIANA.  [Amused.]  Nonsense,  Christopher, 
that's  silly  talk.  Stop  that  for  good!  [Loud 
knocks  repeated.  To  PHILIP.]  May  Cousin  Sam 


20  HER    OWN   WAY 

come  in?   [PHILIP  nods.]  All  right,  he's  got  some 

presents!     Come  in,  Mr.  Coast. 

[COAST  comes  in  and  goes  straight  to  PHILIP. 
SAM  COAST  is  a  tall,  slender,  but  strong-looking 
man,  rather  "  raw-boned."  He  is  dressed  most 
fashionably  and  most  expensively,  —  over 
dressed,  in  fact,  and  yet  not  too  vulgarly. 
A  man  of  muscle  and  nerve,  who  makes  his 
own  code  and  keeps  his  own  counsel. 

COAST.   Shake,  Phil. 

[Shakes  his  hand. 

PHILIP.  [His  hand  hurt.]  Golly!  He  can 
squeeze,  can't  he,  Aunt  Georgiana? 

GEORGIANA.  Well,  really!  Miss  Elaine  Jack 
son  —  Mr.  Coast. 

ELAINE.  [Embarrassed,  rises,  and  curtseys.] 
How  do  you  do  ? 

COAST.  Pleased  to  make  your  acquaintance. 
Hello,  rest  of  you. 


HER    OWN   WAY  21 

CHRISTOPHER  and  TOOTS.  Hello ! 

CHRISTOPHER.  Are  you  Auntie  Georgiana's 
beau? 

COAST.     Yes ! 

GEORGIANA.   Chris! 

CHRISTOPHER.   Lizzie  says  so ! 

LIZZIE.   I  never ! 

TOOTS,  CHRISTOPHER,  and  PHILIP.  Yes,  you 
did !  You  did  too !  You  did  too  ! 

LIZZIE.   [To  GEORGIANA.]    I  never  did,  miss! 

PHILIP.  Yes  you  did,  you  did  too ! 

GEORGIANA.  I  hope  you  didn't,  Lizzie.  You 
may  leave  the  children  with  me  now. 

LIZZIE.   Yes,  ma'am. 

[LIZZIE,  MOLES,  and  FOOTMAN  go  out  at  Right, 
each  taking  some  plates,  etc. 

GEORGIANA.  [To  COAST.]  I  hope  you  don't 
mind. 


22  HER  OWN   WAY 

COAST.  Of  course  I  don't.  It's  true  as  far  as 
I'm  concerned. 

GEORGIANA.   [Laughing.]  It's  not ! 

COAST.   Listen,  will  you  bet? 

GEORGIANA.  [Laughing.]  Not  before  the  chil 
dren  ! 

PHILIP.   Come  on,  let's  cut  the  cake! 

GEORGIANA.   Blow  out  the  candles! 

[All  the  children  blow  out  the  candles  and  then 
get  down  from  the  table. 

COAST.   And  here's  my  contribution  to  the  party. 

[Brings  out  six  big  German  mottoes  from  his 
pocket,  and  goes  to  table  with  them. 

GEORGIANA.  [In  pretended  excitement.]  What? 
Mottoes ! 

ALL  THE  CHILDREN.  [In  delighted  chorus.]  Oh, 
mottoes ! 

PHILIP.  Are  those  the  silver  mines? 


HER   OWN   WAY  23 

COAST.   No!    Why? 

[Laughing    and    handing    the    mottoes    around, 

while  GEORGIANA  cuts  the  cake. 
PHILIP.   I   heard  grandma  say  the   other  day, 
you  had  pockets  full  of  silver  mines. 
GEORGIANA.  The  cake's  ready ! 
[All  take  a  piece  of  cake.     The  children  line  up 
and  down  Centre  from  Right  to  Left:  ELAINE, 
TOOTS,  PHILIP,  CHRISTOPHER. 
COAST.   Your  motto ! 

[Handing  one  to  GEORGIANA. 
GEORGIANA.   One  for  me  too  !    Oh,  thank  you ! 
COAST.   Certainly,  because  I  want  a  bit  of  cake. 
I'm  after  that  ring. 

[Goes  up  back  of  table  for  cake. 
GEORGIANA.   Don't  anybody  swallow  the  ring. 
[All  eat  the  cake  and  now  speak  with  their  mouths 
jull. 


24  HER   OWN   WAY 

CHRISTOPHER.   I  haven't  got  it  yet,  Auntie. 

ELAINE.   Nor  I. 

GEORGIANA.   Don't    talk.    Everybody    eat    till 
some  one  gets  it ! 

TOOTS.   [Crying.]   I  can't  eat  my  cake !    I  can't 
eat  my  cake ! 

GEORGIANA.   Why  not,  dear? 

TOOTS.   'Cause    I    haven't    got    no    place!    I 
haven't  got  no  place  to  put  it ! 

[Crying. 

PHILIP.   He's  full  up ! 

GEORGIANA.   Never    mind,    Toots,    dear,    you 
shall  have  a  piece  for  supper. 

TOOTS.   Will  I  have  room  then? 

CHRISTOPHER.   [A   sudden  loud  and  frightened 
cry.]   Oh!   Oh! 

ALL.   What's  the  matter? 

[All  gather  around  CHRISTOPHER. 


HER    OWN    WAY  25 

GEORGIANA.   {Frightened.}  What  is  it,   Chris? 

CHRISTOPHER.    [Screaming.]     Oh ! 

GEORGIANA.   What  is  it,  dear? 

CHRISTOPHER.   I've  swallowed  it! 

ALL.    What? 

CHRISTOPHER.   I've  swallowed  the  ring! 

ELAINE.   That  isn't  fair! 

PHILIP.  Just  like  Chris,  'fraid  some  one  else'd 
get  it. 

GEORGIANA.  No,  Chris,  dear!  [To  COAST.] 
What  will  we  do? 

COAST.  Chris  has  made  a  mistake,  here  is  the 
ring !  [Finding  it  in  his  own  piece  of  cake.]  There 
weren't  two,  were  there? 

GEORGIANA.   No,  that's  the  one ! 

CHRISTOPHER.  [Smiling  and  greatly  relieved.] 
Oh !  I  guess  I  'magined  it,  then. 

GEORGIANA.   [Affectionately  pretending  to  shake 


26  HER   OWN   WAY 

him.]  Well,  young  man,  you  can  imagine  yourself 
spanked  for  giving  us  all  a  fright.  Now,  come 
along,  the  mottoes.  [To  COAST.]  Of  course  the 
ring  wasn't  meant  for  you.  What  are  you  going 
to  do  with  it? 

COAST.   Keep  it. 

GEORGIANA.   No,  you  mustn't ;  it's  the  children's ! 

COAST.   Philip,  may  I  keep  the  ring? 

PHILIP.   [On  the  hobby  horse.}  Yes,  sir. 

COAST.  And  I'll  give  each  one  of  you  a  ring  in 
place  of  it.  What  kind  will  you  have,  Elaine? 

[He  makes  movement  towards  each  child  as  he 
asks  the  question. 

ELAINE.   One  big  pearl  with  two  great  big  rubies. 

GEORGIANA.   Mercy !     Small  order ! 

COAST.   Very  well.     And  you,  Phil? 

PHILIP.  I  don't  want  any  ring.  I  want  a  watch 
and  chain. 


HER   OWN   WAY  27 

COAST.   Good !    And  you,  Chris,  do  you  want  a 
ring? 

CHRISTOPHER.  I  want  a  gun ! 
COAST.   All  right.     [Writing.]    And  Toots? 
TOOTS.   Nanny  goat ! 

[They  all  laugh.    MOLES  and  FOOTMAN  enter, 
answering  the  bell  which  GEORGIANA  has  rung. 
GEORGIANA.  The  table,  Moles. 
MOLES.   Yes,  ma'am. 

[Takes  away  small  plates,  etc.;  he  then  goes  out 
Right,  followed  by  FOOTMAN,  who  takes  every 
thing  else  from  the  table,  leaving  only  the  cover 
and  a  false  nose  left  from  the  mottoes. 
PHILIP.   [Crosses  to  GEORGIANA  at  table.]  Grand 
ma's  been  up  and  said  we  were  all  to  go  and  see 
mamma. 

GEORGIANA.   Go  in  your  mottoes;  that  will  be 
great  fun ! 


28  HER    OWN   WAY 

ALL  THE   CHILDREN.   Oh,   yes!    Hurrah! 

[Running  off  Left. 

GEORGIANA.  Ssh!  Don't  shout  so;  remember 
poor  mamma's  headache ! 

[All  repeat ,  " Remember  poor  mamma? s  headache" 
and  take  hands  as  they  tip-toe  out,  PHILIP  first, 
ELAINE  second,  CHRIS  third,  TOOTS  fourth, 
repeating  "  Poor  mamma's  headache"  in  a  whis 
per  till  they  are  all  out. 

COAST.  I  can't  get  this  damned  thing  on.  Too 
bad  Cousin  Loo's  ill. 

GEORGIANA.  Oh,  she  isn't  really.  Louise  is 
never  perfectly  well  and  happy  unless  she  has 
something  the  matter  with  her,  especially  if  she 
has  nothing  else  to  do;  she's  bored  to-day,  so 
she's  got  a  headache !  To-night,  when  there's  a 
big  ball  to  which  she  is  not  invited,  she'll  be  fright 
fully  alarmed  about  herself  for  fear  of  appendicitis, 


HER   OWN   WAY  29 

but  to-morrow,  when  we  have  smart  company  at 
luncheon,  she'll  recover  like  a  shot!  It's  all  right 
for  Louise,  but  it's  hard  on  my  brother,  who  really 
adores  her. 

[She  sits  beside  the  table. 

COAST.  Adores!  Say!  That's  the  word  I 
want  to  use  about  you! 

[Follows  GEORGIANA  to  table,  moves  chair  to 
front,  and  sits. 

GEORGIANA.  Nonsense,  Sam!  Do  you  know 
anything  about  some  stocks  called  United  Copper? 

COAST.   Rotten !     Don't  touch  it ! 

GEORGIANA.  My  brother  had  a  tip  this  morning 
on  United  Copper  and  wanted  me  to  give  him  some 
money  to  put  in  it. 

COAST.   Listen !  don't  you  do  it. 

GEORGIANA.  I  wish  you'd  use  your  influence 
with  Steven  to  help  him. 


30  HER   OWN   WAY 

COAST.  How? 

GEORGIANA.  You  must  know  how  mad  he  is 
over  speculation  ?  But  perhaps  you  don't  know  that 
he  has  gone  through  all  his  own  money,  and,  if 
she'll  let  him,  he'll  go  through  his  wife's  next. 
[Smiling.]  Then  I  suppose  it  would  be  my  turn ! 

COAST.   Why  doesn't  he  keep  out  of  it? 

GEORGIANA.  He  can't,  we  must  keep  it  out  of 
him  !  Out  of  his  blood ! 

COAST.   There's  only  one  way. 

GEORGIANA.   What? 

COAST.   Ruin  him ! 

GEORGIANA.  That's  too  anarchistic !  You  spec 
ulate. 

COAST.   But  I  always  win ! 

GEORGIANA.   Can't  you  teach  him? 

COAST.  Listen,  if  I  could  do  that,  I'd  be  the 
richest  man  in  the  world  before  I  got  through. 


HER   OWN   WAY  31 

GEORGIANA.   Can't  you  give  Steve  a  tip  on  some 
sure  things? 

COAST.   There  ain't  any  sure  things. 

GEORGIANA.  Why,  other  friends  of  Steve  are 
always  "putting  him  on  to  something  good." 

COAST.   And  what  happens? 

GEORGIANA.    [Smiling  distressfully.]    Well,  he 
does  lose,  usually. 

COAST.   I  guess  so  ! 

GEORGIANA.   But  you  must  often  have  inside 
information. 

COAST.   And  how  much  is  that  worth? 

[Takes  up  the  false  nose  from  table. 

GEORGIANA.  Well,  it  usually  costs  Steve  all  he 
has !    But  I  thought  you  — 

COAST.    [Interrupting.]    Miss    Georgiana,  you 
see  this  false  nose? 

GEORGIANA.  Yes 


32  HER   OWN   WAY 

COAST.  [Putting  it  on.}  Well,  now  what  do  I 
look  like? 

GEORGIANA.  [Laughing.]  I  shouldn't  like  to 
say! 

COAST.  Exactly!  Well,  see?  That's  what  I'd 
be  if  I  believed  in  tips  and  " inside  information." 
If  a  man  gives  your  brother  a  good  tip,  let  him 
drop  it  like  hot  lead.  People  with  a  real  good  tip 
ain't  giving  it  away.  There's  never  enough  to 
divide  up  and  go  around,  —  not  in  this  world,  — 
and  inside  information  that  gets  told  to  a  lamb 
like  your  brother  is  too  damned  outside  informa 
tion  for  me ! 

[He  rises  and  moves  away,  half  in  irritation,  half 
in  humor. 

GEORGIANA.   Oh!  Oh! 

COAST.   Pardon. 

GEORGIANA.  Are  you  as  rich  as  people  say? 


HER   OWN   WAY  33 

COAST.  Richer! 

GEORGIANA.   How  did  you  get  it? 

COAST.   I  started  my  dough  with  a  mine. 

GEORGIANA.  Why  can't  you  put  Steve  into  a 
mine? 

COAST.  [Laughing.]  What's  the  use?  he'll  lose 
everything  just  as  quick  in  Wall  Street. 

GEORGIANA.   But  I  mean  a  good  mine. 

COAST.  [Coming  back  to  her.]  Listen!  I  worked 
right  in  our  mine  with  my  father  when  I  was  only 
eight  years  old !  That's  why  I  ain't  better  edu 
cated  —  I  worked  for  ten  years  there  down  in  the 
dirt  and  muck ! 

GEORGIANA.   [Interrupting.]     And  silver ! 

COAST.  [Leaning  on  the  back  of  the  chair, ,]  Yes, 
and  silver.  [Laughs.]  Father's  out  there  working 
yet  —  don't  have  to  now,  but  he  likes  it ;  he  ain't 
comfortable  on  top  of  the  earth  —  says  there's  too 

D 


34  HER   OWN   WAY 

much  room.  If  father'd  been  a  man  like  Mackay, 
I  guess  he'd  been  just  as  rich  as  him  to-day. 

GEORGIANA.  And  still  you  won't   help   Steve? 

COAST.  T'ain't  business.  [He  puts  back  his 
chair  and  leans  toward  GEORGIANA,  hand  on  table.} 
If  helping  him,  mind  you,  would  get  you,  I  might 
take  it  on.  [Humorously.}  I'd  pay  even  the  price 
of  Steve  to  buy  you. 

GEORGIANA.  [Taking  the  false  nose  and  putting 
it  on.}  Well,  I'm  not  for  sale.  [Rises.}  But  I 
would  like  to  dispose  of  Steven. 

COAST.   Go  on,  please  take  that  blame  thing  off. 

[Follows  GEORGIANA  across  the  room  to  the  Left. 

GEORGIANA.  No,  I  like  it !  You  must  under 
stand  this  about  my  brother.  [Taking  off  the  nose.} 
He  is  the  dearest,  best  fellow  in  the  world !  kind- 
hearted  and  wouldn't  do  a  thing  that  wasn't  straight 
forward  in  business. 


HER   OWN    WAY  35 

COAST.  But  you've  got  to  be  tricky  if  you  want 
to  succeed  in  our  business.  I  don't  mind  telling  you 
right  out  between  us,  I'm  tricky ! 

GEORGIANA.   I'm  sorry  to  hear  it. 

COAST.  Louise  was  a  pretty  good  liar  when  she 
was  a  kid.  She  ought  to  help  her  husband  along 
a  little. 

GEORGIANA.  That's  just  it!  if  Steve  had  the 
right  sort  of  wife,  —  but  all  Louise  wants  is  social 
position  and  more  money. 

[She  sits  on  the  hobby  horse,  amusedly.] 

COAST.   If  Louise  was  like  you ! 

[GEORGIANA  puts  the  nose  on  quickly  and  rocks. 

GEORGIANA.  Heaven  forbid !  The  only  trouble 
with  Steve  is  he's  weak.  He'd  have  been  all  right 
if  he'd  been  a  girl  —  or  married  to  a  president 
of  Sorosis,  or  a  daughter  of  the  Present  Revo 
lution  ! 


36  HER   OWN   WAY 

COAST.  Miss  Georgiana,  take  off  that  nose  and 
let  me  ask  you  something. 

GEORGIANA.  Not  at  all,  my  dear  Sammy.  I 
know  what  it  is  you  want  to  ask  me !  I'm  much 
obliged  and  I  won't. 

COAST.   You  won't  marry  me ! 

GEORGIANA.  No! 

COAST.  Why  not? 

GEORGIANA.  Because  I  don't  love  you. 

COAST.  Who  do  you  love? 

GEORGIANA.  That's  not  your  business! 

COAST.   Do  you  love  any  one? 

GEORGIANA.  [After  a  moment's  hesitation,  lies.] 
No! 

COAST.  [With  insinuation.]  Why  don't  you  get 
Dick  Coleman  to  help  Steven? 

GEORGIANA.  [Taking  off  the  nose.]  Why  do  you 
ask  me  that  now  in  that  way? 


HER   OWN  WAY  37 

COAST.   Information! 

GEORGIANA.  Dick's  a  lawyer.  What  could  he 
do  for  Steven? 

COAST.   That's  not  the  information  I  wanted. 

GEORGIANA.  But  it's  all  the  information  you'll 
get! 

[Gets  off  the  hobby  horse  and  comes  down  a 
little. 

COAST.  [Follows  her.}  Georgiana,  marry  me, 
and  I'll  look  after  Steven  all  the  rest  of  his 
life. 

GEORGIANA.  Sammy,  you  don't  want  me  to 
marry  you  if  I  don't  love  you. 

COAST.  Yes,  I  do.  Listen !  I'd  risk  your  not 
loving  me;  there's  nothing  on  God's  earth  I 
wouldn't  do  to  make  you  love  me. 

GEORGIANA.  That's  the  trouble  with  you  men, 
you  think  you  can  make  a  woman  love  you  whether 


38  HER   OWN   WAY 

she  wants  to  or  not,  but  you  can't !  —  neither  can 
you  keep  her  from  loving  you  if  she  does,  whether 
she  wants  to  or  not. 

[Throws  nose  away;  crossing  to  the  Left,  sits  in 
the  rocking  chair  there. 

COAST.   I'd  give  you   everything! 

GEORGIANA.  That  you  can  buy! 

COAST.  Do  you  mean  that  you'd  rather  be  dead 
poor  than  marry  me? 

GEORGIANA.  No,  I  don't  say  that !  When  I've 
lost  everything  and  Steven  and  Louise  are  bank 
rupt,  and  we  haven't  a  penny  — 

COAST.  Yes! 

GEORGIANA.  I  might  — I  say  I  might  — 

COAST.   Honest! 

GEORGIANA.   [Laughing.]   Oh,  dear,  no ! 

COAST.  I  take  you  at  your  word,  anyhow. 

[The  children's  voices  are  heard. 


HER    OWN   WAY  39 

CHILDREN.   [Off  Left.]  Come  on  back  to  our 
room  and  have  some  more  fun. 
GEORGIANA.  Sh!    Here  come  the  children. 

[Rises. 

COAST.   Damn  the  children ! 
GEORGIANA.  Sam! 

[She  puts  finger  up,  COAST  kisses  it. 
COAST.   Pardon!    But  I  don't  give  up !    Under 
stand —  I'm  going  to  marry  you! 

GEORGIANA.   [Teasing him.]  When?    When? 

[The  children  rush  in  screaming. 
THE    CHILDREN.     Aunt    Georgiana!      Here's 
papa !     Here's  papa  ! 

[And  STEVEN  CARLEY  enters  Lejt.  He  is  a 
slender,  smooth-shaven,  young-old  looking 
man,  his  voice  and  body  almost  vibrating 
with  nerve;  a  personality  that  so  often  ap 
peals  to  the  tenderness  in  women,  while  it 


4o  HER    OWN   WAY 

irritates  men.  He  brings  his  hat  and  coat 
with  him. 

STEVEN.   Hello,  Sam! 

COAST.   Morning ! 

STEVEN.   Many  happy  returns,  Georgy. 

GEORGIANA.  Oh,  no,  thank  you!  It's  not  for 
me  yet,  thank  goodness ! 

PHILIP.   Now  let's  play  hide  and  seek. 

THE  CHILDREN.   Hide  and  seek ! 

LIZZIE.  [Entering  Left.]  Excuse  me,  please. 
Mrs.  Jackson's  maid  is  here  for  Miss  Elaine. 

PHILIP.   Oh,  pshaw! 

CHRISTOPHER.   Don't  you  go ! 

ELAINE.  Oh,  yes,  I  must!  I'm  sorry!  [She 
goes  up  stage  with  great  diffidence  to  STEVEN  and 
shakes  his  hand  as  she  curtseys.]  Good-by,  sir. 
[To  COAST  also.]  Good-by,  sir.  [To  GEORGIANA.] 
Good-by,  ma'am,  I've  had  a  perfectly  lovely  time. 


HER    OWN   WAY  41 

[Aside  to  GEORGIANA.]  Phil  is  my  beau,  but  I  like 
Mr.  Coast  awfully  much  too ! 

GEORGIANA.  [Laughing.]  You're  beginning 
early!  Come  along,  children,  we'll  take  Elaine 
down.  Excuse  me,  everybody,  please. 

PHILIP.  If  you've  got  any  good  tips,  papa,  save 
some  for  little  brother. 

[The  children  go   out  Left   with   GEORGIANA. 

STEVEN.  [Putting  his  hat  and  coat  down  on  the 
sofa.]  He's  on  to  his  father  early!  Sam,  any 
news? 

COAST.  No. 

STEVEN.  I've  heard  of  a  big  thing,  an  absolutely 
straight  tip,  —  inside  information. 

COAST.  [Sitting  in  the  rocker.]  Well,  don't  tell 
it,  or  you'll  spoil  it. 

STEVEN.  The  women  are  so  down  on  my  specu 
lating,  Georgiana  especially. 


42  HER   OWN   WAY 

[Sits  on  the  table. 

COAST.  What  do  the  women  folks  know  about 
business?  Why  don't  you  keep  what  you  do  to 
yourself? 

STEVEN.  But  you  see  my  money's  all  gone,  and 
I  need  more  —  only  to  recoup  with. 

COAST.  [After  a  slight  pause.]  As  I  remem 
ber,  you  can  do  what  you  like  with  Louise's 
money. 

STEVEN.   But  is  it  right? 

COAST.  You're  too  blamed  afraid,  that's  why 
you  always  lose. 

STEVEN.  [Walking  up  and  down.]  I  know  it. 
And  this  is  the  biggest  chance  I've  had  yet.  If 
I  dared  risk  it,  I'm  sure  I  could  make  a  for 
tune  !  Not  in  words !  I  know  what  I'm  talking 
about,  Sam.  Louise  would  have  everything  she 
wanted  —and  the  way  she'd  live  then !  She  could 


HER   OWN  WAY  43 

drop  the  social  chip  off  her  shoulders,  go  anywhere, 
and  receive  everybody. 

[Standing  beside  the  table,  he  eats  a  little  cake. 

COAST.  Well? 

STEVEN.  Do  you  advise  me  to  risk  it? 

COAST.   [Pretending  indifference.]  What? 

STEVEN.   Louise's  money? 

COAST.  I  ain't  advising  anything.  If  it  went 
wrong,  you'd  blame  me  to  the  women. 

STEVEN.   Is  that  the  kind  of  a  man  I  am? 

COAST.  [Rises  and  goes  to  Steven  and  slaps  him 
on  the  back.]  No,  Steve,  I  take  it  back.  You  take 
a  licking  better'n  any  feller  I  ever  saw. 

STEVEN.  Experience!  But  this  thing  can't  go 
wrong!  The  man  who  told  me  is  the  head 
and — I  told  Georgiana —  didn't  she  give  you  a 
hint? 

COAST.   [After  a  slight  pause.]    No. 


44  HER    OWN    WAY 

[Turns  up  to  the  window  and  stands  there  with 
his  back  to  Steven. 

STEVEN.   My  tip's  a  great  one — safe !  Now,  shall 
I  take  it? 

COAST.   Of  course,  when  I  feel  as  you  do  about 
a  thing,  I  do  it. 

STEVEN.   And  by  George,  I  will  too ! 

COAST.   Why  not  ? 

[Turning  and  facing  him. 

STEVEN.   Yes!  what   I   make's  for  Louise,  not 
for  myself. 

COAST.    I    wouldn't    say    anything    to    Louise 

about  it. 

[Comes  down  a  little. 

STEVEN.   No,  she'd  be  sure  to  talk  it  over  with 

Georgiana. 

[He  sits  by  the  table. 

COAST.   And,  say,  not  a  word,  you  know,  about 
me  in  all  this. 


HER    OWN    WAY  45 

STEVEN.  I  give  you  my  word,  Sam. 

COAST.  Why  not  let  the  old  lady  in,  too,  Aunt 
Laura,  if  it's  such  a  good  thing? 

[He  gives  a  side  look  at  STEVEN. 

STEVEN.   Didn't  they  tell  you? 

COAST.  What? 

STEVEN.   I  put  mother  into  East  Mexicos! 

COAST.   Gee! 

[Whistles,  crosses  to  the  sofa  Right,  and  sits  on 
GEORGIANA'S  furs;  jumps  up  quickly,  moves 
the  furs,  and  then  sits  again. 

STEVEN.  That  was  an  extraordinary  thing.  No 
one  knows  how  it  happened,  but  she  lost  every 
cent. 

COAST.   But- 

STEVEN.  Dear  old  Georgiana  pays  the  interest 
for  me,  and  the  old  lady  doesn't  know. 

COAST.   Georgiana's  a  damn  fine  girl. 


46  HER   OWN  WAY 

STEVEN.  She  is !  I'll  pay  her  back  out  of  this 
coup,  too,  another  good  thing. 

COAST.    Fine ! 

STEVEN.  I  believe  I'll  go  back  down  town  now. 
[Both  rise  and  go  Left  as  MOLES  comes  in. 

COAST.    All  right.     Come  on,  we'll  go  together. 

STEVEN.   Good ! 

MOLES.  Please,  sir,  may  I  speak  to  you  a  min 
ute,  Mr.  Carley? 

COAST.  I'll  wait  downstairs,  Steve. 

[He  goes  out  Left. 

STEVEN.  Yes,  Moles? 

MOLES.   The  champagne  is  out,  sir. 

STEVEN.   Order  another  case. 

MOLES.  I  did,  three  days  ago,  over  the  telephone, 
and  I  called  them  up  yesterday  to  ask  about  it,  and 
they  said  your  bill  was  so  long  oustanding  they'd 
please  like  it  settled  before  filling  any  future  orders. 


HER   OWN    WAY  47 

STEVEN.  Tell  Mrs.  Carley;  the  household  bills 
are  her  affair,  aren't  they? 

MOLES.  She  says  there  is  some  mistake.  She 
gave  you  a  check  for  the  wine  bill  last  month,  sir. 

STEVEN.  Did  she  ?  Oh,  of  course  she  did.  It 
was  the  day  I  heard  about  Alabama  Rails  and  I 
bought  a  couple  on  margin!  They're  down  just 
now.  The  wine  people  must  wait. 

[Dismissing  him. 

MOLES.  But  we've  a  big  luncheon,  sir,  to 
morrow  and  no  wine. 

STEVEN.  Very  well,  then,  I'll  get  Miss  Georgi- 
ana  to  give  you  a  check.  I  don't  want  to  bother 
Mrs.  Carley,  she's  got  a  headache. 

MOLES.  The  wages  are  due,  sir,  and  the  trades 
books  weren't  settled  last  month. 

STEVEN.  Well,  I'll  attend  to  it  all  to-morrow 
or  next  day,  Moles.  Give  me  my  coat,  will  you? 


48  HER   OWN  WAY 

[MOLES  gets  the  coat  from  the  sofa  and  hands  it  to 
STEVEN.]  I've  been  short  of  ready  money  for  a 
little  while,  but  things  are  looking  up.  By  the 
way,  you're  a  good  sort;  I'd  like  to  do  you  a  good 
turn.  I  happen  to  be  on  to  something,  Moles, 
on  to  something  down  in  Wall  Street.  Would  you 
like  to  make  a  little  money  ? 

MOLES.  [Brightening  visibly.]  Indeed  and  I 
would,  sir.  I've  got  two  thousand  three  hundred 
and  sixteen  dollars  in  my  savings  bank,  and  I've 
heard  of  how  these  Wall  Street  magnums  made 
fortunes  out  of  less'n  that. 

STEVEN.  I'll  double  it  for  you !  You  get  it  for 
me,  Moles,  and  I'll  make  it  into  five  or  six  thou 
sand  for  you,  sure ! 

MOLES.   Thank  you,  sir! 

STEVEN.  [Writes  in  note  book.]  I'll  put  in  an 
order  to  buy  for  you  the  first  thing  in  the  morn- 


HER    OWN    WAY  49 

ing;  and  you  have  your  money  down  at  my  office 
by  ten  o'clock,  can  you? 

MOLES.  Yes,  sir,  I  can  get  off  in  the  morning. 
I  can't  thank  you  enough,  sir ! 

STEVEN.  Oh,  that's  all  right,  —  we'll  be  a  rich 
household  here  before  we  get  through,  Moles. 
They'll  be  telephoning  us  to  please  send  in  some 
orders  for  champagne ! 

[Puts  note-book  away. 

MOLES.  Oh,  don't  trouble  about  these  bills,  sir. 
I  can  hold  off  the  people  a  little  longer,  and  I'll 
order  the  wine  in  another  place. 

STEVEN.  That's  a  good  boy,  Moles,  then  I 
won't  have  to  bother  my  sister. 

MOLES.   Yes,  sir. 

[He  goes  out  as  GEORGIANA  and  the  children 
enter  Left. 

GEORGIANA.  Here's  papa!    Come  along,  now, 

E 


50  HER   OWN  WAY 

Steve,  I've  promised  the  children  a  game  of  hide 
and  go  seek! 

STEVEN.  All  right,  I  knew  father  wanted  to  do 
something  very  much,  —  only  couldn't  think  what. 
Of  Course,  it  was  hide  and  seek ! 
GEORGIANA.  Philip  must  be  "it"  first! 
PHILIP.  All  right ! 

[PHILIP  goes  into  the  corner  Right,  with 
his  back  to  the  others.  All  hide  behind 
or  under  the  different  pieces  of  furniture  — 
GEORGIANA  under  the  table,  TOOTS  back 
of  the  rocker,  STEVEN  under  the  sofa, 
etc. 
PHILIP.  [Impatient.]  Are  you  ready? 

[Pause. 
CHRISTOPHER.  Not  yet ! 

[Getting  behind  curtains  Centre  window. 
PHILIP.  Now  are  you  ready? 


HER    OWN   WAY  51 

[LizziE  comes  in  Left,  as  soon  as  STEVEN  hides 
under  so/a. 

GEORGIANA.  Not  yet ! 

[Getting  under  the  table. 

LIZZIE.   Mr.   Carley,  please,  sir! 

STEVEN.  [Putting  his  head  out  from  under  the 
sofa.]  Yes,  Lizzie? 

CHRISTOPHER.  Don't  turn  round,  Phil,  it's 
only  Lizzie.  Wait ! 

LIZZIE.  Excuse  me,  but  Mr.  Coast  sent  me 
upstairs  to  see  — 

STEVEN.  Oh,  by  George,  yes!  [Coming  out 
from  the  sofa.]  I  forgot.  I  must  go  back  down 
town. 

PHILIP.   Oh,  pshaw! 

[About  to  turn. 

GEORGIANA.   Don't  turn,  Phil ! 

CHRISTOPHER.    No,  the  rest  of  us  is  hid  1 


52  HER    OWN   WAY 

STEVEN.  I'm  sorry,  children  !  Father'd  a  great 
deal  rather  play  hide  and  seek,  but  he's  got  to  go 
to  work.  It's  just  like  when  you'd  rather  play  but 
have  to  study ! 

PHILIP.  When  I  get  growed,  I  shan't  never  do 
anything  I  don't  want  to. 

GEORGIANA.  Then  you'd  be  the  most  wonder 
ful  person  in  the  world,  and  they'd  put  you  in 
wax  in  the  Eden  Musee ! 

STEVEN.  [Kissing  PHIL,  then  CHRIS,  then 
TOOTS.]  Good-by,  dears. 

THE  CHILDREN.   [Dolefully.]   Good-by. 

[STEVEN  crosses  to  the  door  Left. 

GEORGIANA.  Never  mind,  I'll  finish  with  you. 
Don't  turn  around,  Phil. 

LIZZIE.  [At  the  door  Left.]  Beg  pardon,  sir,  but 
Moles  has  been  and  told  me  what  you  was  going 
to  do  for  him,  sir.  Would  you  be  considering  it 


HER   OWN  WAY  53 

great  impertinence  if  I  asked  you  to  take  six  hun 
dred  dollars  what  I've  saved,  sir,  and  do  things 
with  it? 

STEVEN.   Certainly,  Lizzie,  send  it  by  Moles  in 
the  morning. 

LIZZIE.   [Delighted.]   Oh,  thank  you,  sir ! 
STEVEN.   I'm  glad  to  do  it;    you've  served  us 
faithfully  for  some  years  now,  Lizzie. 

[He  goes  out. 
LIZZIE.   He's   gone,   miss. 

[She  goes  out  also. 
GEORGIANA.   [Calls.]  Ready! 
[PHILIP  turns  and  looks  about  the  room,  then 
begins  to  look  under  things.     He  sees  his  AUNT 
GEORGIANA  first  and  is  about  to  touch  her, 
but  she  laughingly  motions  him  not  to  and 
points  out  TOOTS'S  hiding  place. 
PHILIP.  [Finding  TOOTS,  touches  him.]  You're  it ! 


54  HER    OWN   WAY 

TOOTS.   [Very  pleased.]  I'm  it!     I'm  it! 

[Jumps  up  and  down. 

CHRISTOPHER.   [Disappointed.]  Somebody  find 
me. 

PHILIP.   Oh,  come  on  out  from  behind  the  cur 
tain  —  you're  —  easy. 

[CHRISTOPHER  comes  out.  Meanwhile  COLEMAN 
is  heard  calling,  "Hello,  Phil,  Phil,"  outside 
as  he  comes  up  the  stairs. 

PHILIP.   [By  the  hobby  horse.]  It's  Mr.  Dick! 

THE  CHILDREN.  It's  Mr.  Dick ! 

GEORGIANA.  Oh! 

[Starts  to  get  out  from  under  the  table,  but  COLE- 
MAN  enters,  so  she  crawls  back. 

[LIEUTENANT  RICHARD  COLEMAN  is  a  handsome, 
finely  built  man  of  about  thirty-two.  He  is  a 
West  Pointer,  is  a  good  oarsman,  a  crack  shot, 
and  a  good  fellow  all  around.  No  finicking 


HER   OWN   WAY  55 

about  him,  no  nerves.    Just  a  sane,  healthy, 
fine  jellow. 

DICK.  Hello!  Many  happy  returns,  Phil. 
[Shakes  hands.]  Where's  your  Aunt  Georgiana ! 
[Silence.]  Is  she  out? 

PHIL.   No,  she's  under  the  table! 

CHRISTOPHER  AND  TOOTS.  [Delighted.]  She's 
under  the  table!  She's  under  the  table! 

DICK.   [Laughing.]  What! 

PHILIP.   Hide  and  seek. 

[DICK  looks  under  the  table;  he  and  GEORGIANA 
laugh. 

DICK.   Good  morning,  are  you  at  home? 

GEORGIANA.  [Very  embarrassed.]  Oh,  mercy! 
Do  go  away  so  I  can  get  out ! 

DICK.  [Tremendously  amused.]  Come  on 
out! 

GEORGIANA.  No!    I    can't    with    you    there. 


56  HER    OWN   WAY 

[Laughing.]   Please  leave  the  room  for  just  one 
minute ! 

DICK.   Not  if  I  know  it !     Come  on  out ! 

GEORGIAN  A.  Not  for  worlds !  Go  away,  please ! 
[DiCK  shakes  his  head  "No."]  Then  I  shall  never 
come  out. 

DICK.  Ah,  but  that's  hardly  fair,  because  I 
want  to  talk  to  you  comfortably. 

GEORGIANA.   Well,  then,  come  on  under! 

DICK.   Is  there  room? 

GEORGIANA.  A  cable  car  conductor  who  knew 
his  business  could  seat  four  more  people  in  here. 

DICK.  Still  —  I  think  I'm  more  comfortable  up 
here. 

GEORGIANA.  Selfish!  Go  on  away!  [DICK 
shakes  his  head.]  Children,  if  you  love  your 
auntie,  go  for  Mr.  Dick  with  all  your  might  and 
main  and  push  him  into  the  hall. 


HER   OWN   WAY  57 

[The  children  shout  and  rush  toward  DICK;  they 

catch  hold  of  him. 
THE  CHILDREN.   Go  away ! 
DICK.   [With  mock  ferocity.]  The  first  child  I 
get  hold  of  I'll  spank  ! 

[The  children  laugh  and  shout  and  run  away 

from  him  to  behind  the  table. 
THE  CHILDREN.   Spank ! 

GEORGIANS  Ogre!  Very  well!  After  all,  I'm 
not  vain !  It  would  take  Barnum's  human  snake 
to  get  out  of  this  gracefully,  anyway ! 

[Coming  out,  arranging  her  dress  and  hair. 
DICK.   Have  some  help? 

GEORGIANS  No,  thank  you.  But  still,  what  a 
horrid  person  you  are,  aren't  you? 

[They  both  laugh. 

DICK.    You  aren't ! 

GEORGIANA.   O    dear   me!     Making   up   now 


58  HER    OWN   WAY 

with  a  compliment !  Well,  what  do  you  think  of 
my  birthday  antics?  Playing  hide  and  seek  — 
or,  perhaps,  trained  elephants  —  doesn't  interest 
you ! 

CHRISTOPHER.  Lelephants!     Oh,    Auntie!     Is 
the  circus  coming? 
[The  children  give  themselves  up  to  transports. 

PHIL  hugs  TOOTS  and  repeats  "Circus." 
GEORGIANA.   No,  darling,  but  this  circus  is  going 
-  your  old-maid  aunt  —  to  put  herself  to  rights ! 
DICK.   You   couldn't   improve   on   present   ap 
pearances  ! 

GEORGIANA.   Really !    Such  fine  speeches  !   But 
they  don't  go  with  your  manners!    Would  you 
like   to  join  in   the  game? 
PHILIP.   Oh,  yes!    Hurrah! 
[Runs  to  DICK,  when  MRS.  CARLEY  comes  in 
from  the  Left. 


HER   OWN  WAY  59 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Well !    What's  going  on  ? 

PHILIP.   Birthdays ! 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Not  for  me ! 

GEORGIANA.   Don't  you  want  to  play  hide  and 
go  seek,  mother? 

MRS.  CARLEY.  I'm  playing  it  all  the  time  with 
old  age !    That's  enough ! 

GEORGIANA.  Well,  excuse  me,  please,  while  I 
repair  damages. 

[She  goes  out  Right. 

DICK.   [Calls.]   Come  back. 

CHILDREN.     [Calling.]   Come  back! 

MRS.  CARLEY.   I  want  the  children  for  a  few 
minutes. 

THE  CHILDREN.   [Disappointed.]   Oh,  Grannie ! 

[She  goes  to  children  and  drives  them  off  Left 
ahead  of  her. 

THE  CHILDREN.   Oh,  Grandma ! 


60  HER    OWN   WAY 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Mrs.  Vale  is  downstairs  with  the 
twins,  to  wish  Phil  many  happy  returns. 

[The  children  go  out  Left  unwillingly.  MRS. 
CARLEY  comes  back. 

DICK.   Going  to  spoil  our  game,  Grandma  ? 

MRS.  CARLEY.  'Don't  you  grandma  me !  You're 
old  enough  for  me  to  marry  you. 

DICK.   Help! 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Don't  worry!  Having  lost  two 
good  husbands,  I'm  not  going  to  risk  losing  a  third. 

DICK.   I  breathe  freely  once  more. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  I  thought  Sammy  Coast  was 
here. 

DICK.  Not  since  I  came.  He  seems  a  clever 
chap ! 

MRS.  CARLEY.  We  think  so,  and  we  hope  so. 
He  adores  Georgiana. 

DICK.   Oh! 


HER    OWN    WAY  61 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Huh  !  huh  !  [DiCK  walks  away.] 
What  do  you  say  to  that  match? 

DICK.   You  don't  mean  ?  — 

[Turns  to  MRS.  CARLEY, 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Looks  like  it!  It  would  be  a 
fine  thing  for  both  of  them.  Sam  could  give  her  a 
fortune,  and  Georgiana  give  him  a  big  position. 

DICK.   But  — 

MRS.  CARLEY.  He's  crazy  about  her!  Comes 
here  every  day  —  follows  her  like  a  dog. 

DICK.   But  it  isn't  — 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Interrupting.]  Not  yet,  but  we 
don't  dare  breathe!  And  we're  on  tiptoe  for  the 
final  word. 

DICK.   What  does  Steven  say? 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Delighted,  of  course.  [Walks 
away  a  little.]  I  "hope  you  haven't  brought  Steve 
any  tips  to-day. 


62  HER    OWN   WAY 

DICK.   [Laughing.]  No ! 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Thank  goodness!  He  doesn't 
seem  to  have  had  any  this  week  and  the  house  has 
been  fairly  quiet!  [GEORGIANA  comes  back.]  I 
must  go  to  Mrs.  Vale.  [Goes  out.] 

GEORGIANA.    Mother  looks  pleased. 

DICK.   She's  never  very  depressed,  is  she? 

GEORGIANA.  Yes,  sometimes,  —  in  the  day 
time!  It's  largely  a  matter  of  frocks  and  bon 
nets,  and  depends  sometimes  on  the  exact  color 
of  her  hair. 

DICK.  I  often  wonder  that  you  keep  on  living 
with  Mrs.  Carley  and  Louise.  They  can't  help 
being  beastly  uncongenial  to  you. 

GEORGIANA.  But  Mrs.  Carley  brought  me  up. 
She  did  her  worst  with  the  best  intentions,  and  you 
musn't  forget  Steve !  [She  sits  beside  the  table  and 
DICK  leans  against  it  to  talk  to  her.}  He's  my  own 


HER    OWN   WAY  63 

brother,  you  know,  and  I'm  so  afraid  Louise  will 
finally  disillusion  him  and  spoil  his  happiness. 
I'm  standing  on  guard. 

DICK.   You  think  a  lot  of  Steve. 

GEORGIAN  A.  I  love  him  better  than  any  one 
else  in  the  world.  [She  adds  in  a  very  low  voice.] 

Almost ! 

[4  short  pause. 

DICK.   Steve  comes  second! 

[Pause. 

GEORGIANA.  [Low  voice  and  looking  away.] 
Perhaps. 

DICK.  I  hope  you  don't  mind  my  asking  you 
these  questions. 

GEORGIANA.  No,  I  like  it. 

DICK.  I  don't  want  you  to  tell  me  anything 
more  than  you  care  to. 

GEORGIANA.  [Turning  and  half  laughing.] 
That's  very  good  of  you. 


64  HER   OWN   WAY 

DICK.   But  I  wish  you'd  tell  me  everything. 
GEORGIANA.   My   dear   Dick,   there   isn't  any 
thing  more  for  me  to  tell. 

DICK.   Oh,  very  well,  if  you  want  to  leave  it 

that  way. 

[Moving  away. 

GEORGIANA.  Leave  what? 
DICK.   I  mean  if  that's  all  you  want  to  tell  me. 
GEORGIANA.   Why  don't  you  tell  me  something. 
DICK.   That's  what  I've  come  to  do. 
GEORGIANA.   Have  you? 

DICK.   [Turns  and  faces  GEORGIANA.]   Our  regi 
ment  is  ordered  off  to  the  Philippines. 
GEORGIANA.  Your  regiment? 
DICK.  Yes. 

GEORGIANA.   [Breathless.]  Who's  going? 
DICK.   Who?    Why,  we're  going,  of  course. 
GEORGIANA.  All  of  you? 


HER    OWN   WAY  65 

DICK.  Yes,  all  of  us.  There  are  two  insurrec 
tions  on  a  couple  of  islands  that  must  be  put  down, 
and  they  want  some  fresh  men. 

GEORGIANA.  But  it  will  be  awful  warfare  out 
there,  won't  it,  unfair,  cruel,  unlawful  warfare? 

DICK.  I  suppose  that's  what  it's  likely  to  be 
with  the  natives  until  we  teach  them  a  thorough 
lesson  on  every  one  of  the  infernal  islands. 

GEORGIANA.  But  — 

[Hesitates,  rises ;  they  are  both  in  front  oj  the  table. 

DICK.   But  what? 

GEORGIANA.  [Pause.}  But  your  business,  —  how 
can  you  leave  your  office? 

DICK.  There  are  plenty  of  people  who'll  be 
only  too  glad  to  take  on  my  clients. 

GEORGIANA.   But  when  you  come  back  ? 

DICK.   If  the  worst  comes  to  the  worst,  I'll  have 
to  begin  all  over  again. 
F 


66  HER   OWN   WAY 

GEORGIANA.   No !    Don't  go  —  Dick !    Don't 
go! 

DICK.  Why  not? 

GEORGIANA.  [Humorously,  to  cover  her  emotion.] 
I  don't  want  any  one  else  to  get  your  clients. 

DICK.  Oh,  you  were  thinking  of  my  career! 
That'll  take  care  of  itself  if  I  come  back  —  and 
if  I  don't  — 

GEORGIANA.  Please! 

DICK.  They  said  we  were  a  lot  of  dandies  in  the 
regiment,  and  that  if  it  ever  came  to  fighting, 
people'd  see  us  back  down ! 

GEORGIANA.   But  need  you  all  go? 

DICK.  That's  the  glory  of  it !  It's  fine,  Georgy. 
There  isn't  a  single  man  who'll  be  left  behind,  not 
on  any  old  excuse ! 

GEORGIANA.   Splendid! 

DICK.   You  do  want  me  to  go,  then,  don't  you  ? 


HER    OWN   WAY  67 

GEORGIANA.   Yes,  if  it's  like  that,  I  want  you  to 
go  —  but  —  I  want  you  to  come  back,  too  ! 

[Almost  breaking  down.] 

DICK.   Hello  !    I  believe  you're  crying. 

GEORGIANA.   I'm  not ! 

DICK.   [Tenderly,    scarcely   believing.]   Do    you 
care  so  much  as  that,  Georgy? 

GEORGIANA.   [Proudly.]   Of  course  I  care! 

DICK.   It's   funny,    isn't    it  —  think   how   long 
we've  known  each  other. 

GEORGIANA.   [Still  with  a  choke  and  a  tear.] 
I  don't  see  why  it's  funny. 

DICK.   What  I  mean  is,  we're  sentimental  beasts 
—  we  people. 

GEORGIANA.  Thank  you,  I  don't  care  for  the 
way  you  put  it. 

DICK.   [Takes  a  long  breath.]  Well,  I  wish  you 
joy,  Georgiana. 


68  HER   OWN  WAY 

GEORGIANA.   Much  obliged. 

DICK.   And  good-by. 

[Shakes  hands. 

GEORGIANA.   [Rises.]  Not  now,  for  good. 

DICK.  [Laughing.]  Oh,  no,  we  aren't  off  for  ten 
days  yet.  But  I  wanted  to  tell  my  old  pal  first. 

GEORGIANA.  That  was  good  of  you.  And  you'll 
come  in  often  before  you  go,  won't  you,  Dick  ? 

DICK.   You  bet !     Every  chance  I  get. 

[Both  go  up  to  the  window.    He  has  meant  to  go, 
but  she  manoeuvres  him  to  the  big  seat  instead. 

GEORGIANA.  And  anything  I  can  do  for  you  ? 

[She  sits. 

DICK.  [Sitting  beside  her.]  Oh,  I  don't  think 
there  can  be  anything. 

GEORGIANA.  Oh,  yes,  there  is  always  something 
women  can  do  for  men  who  go  away  to  fight. 
They  make  things !  Let  me  make  something  for  you. 


HER    OWN   WAY  69 

DICK.  Can't  think  of  anything.  Got  everything 
I  want. 

GEORGIANA.  You're  a  lucky  man  to  have  every 
thing  you  want  —  and  going  off  to  the  Philippines 
with  a  jolly  crowd  of  friends  and  glad  you're  going ! 
I  take  back  all  my  sympathy,  and  I  wouldn't  make 
you  anything  now  if  you  asked  me  to. 

DICK.  And,  by  George,  just  when  I'd  thought 
of  something. 

GEORGIANA.  What? 

DICK.   [Laughing.]  A  court-plaster  case! 

GEORGIANA.  You  can  buy  one  in  a  drug 
store. 

DICK.  I  ought  to  have  some  present  to  carry 
in  my  breast  pocket;  don't  you  know  bullets  are 
always  warded  off  that  way? 

GEORGIANA.  Oh,  that  was  in  the  old  romantic 
days  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and  then  it  was  a 


70  HER   OWN   WAY 

prayer  book  or  a  bunch  of  love  letters.    To-day 
it's  much  more  apt  to  be  a  cigarette  case ! 

[The  children  run  in,  led  by  PHILIP. 
PHILIP.   They've     gone!     Hurrah!       They've 
gone! 

[GEORGIANA  and  DICK  rise. 
CHRISTOPHER.  They've  gone!    They've  gone! 
[Tooxs  hangs  on  to  DICK. 
PHILIP.   [Taking  hold  of   GEORGIANA.]     Come 
on,  now,  our  game,  or  we'll  never  have  it! 
CHRISTOPHER.   Blindman's  buff! 
TOOTS.   Yes,  blindman's  buff! 
GEORGIANA.   [To  DICK.]  Are  you  game? 
DICK.   Just  one  round,  and  then  I  must  be  off. 
I'll  be  blindfolded. 

[Takes  out  his  handkerchief. 
TOOTS.   I  want  to  be  blindfolded! 
PHILIP.   No!    Let  Mr.  Dick! 


HER   OWN   WAY  71 

DICK.  [Giving  his  handkerchief  to  GEORGIANA.] 
Will  you  blindfold  me? 

GEORGIANA.   [Binds  his  eyes.]  To  my  faults? 

DICK.   That  would  be  Love's  Labour  Lost. 

GEORGIANA.  How  do  you  mean  Love's  Labour 
Lost? 

PHILIP.   Don't  let  him  peek! 

DICK.   And  whoever  I  catch,  I  kiss ! 

PHILIP.   No,  tell  the  name  first! 

DICK.  No,  I  must  play  my  own  game,  and  that 
is  to  kiss  her  first,  and  tell  the  name  after 
wards  ! 

GEORGIANA.  Now,  turn  him  around  three  times, 
Christopher.  [CHRISTOPHER  does  so,  holding  DICK 
by  the  knees.]  And  keep  away,  everybody! 

CHRISTOPHER.   Ready! 

[All  watch  eagerly.  DICK  moves  down  stage, 
reaching  his  arms  out  as  a  blindfolded  person 


72  HER    OWN   WAY 

does,  but  always  with  his  arms  too  high  to 
catch  one  oj  the  children. 

PHILIP.   Put  your  arms  lower! 

CHRISTOPHER.  Yes,  you  can  only  catch  Aunt 
Georgiana  that  way! 

[GEORGIANA,  happy,  pinches  CHRISTOPHER'S 
arm  playfully.  DICK  lowers  his  arms  for  a 
moment,  but  purposely  catches  no  one.  Then 
he  lifts  his  arms  a  little  towards  GEORGIANA, 
who  cries  out  and  moves,  lifting  TOOTS  on 
the  table.  DICK  follows  the  sound  of  her  voice 
and  catches  hold  of  TOOTS 's  head. 

PHILIP.   [Excited.]   Musn't  move  your  hands ! 

DICK.   Make  her  kiss  me,  then. 

[GEORGIANA  leans  over,  holding  TOOTS  to  one 
side,  and  kisses  DICK  herself. 

PHILIP.  [Delighted,  calls  out.]  Guess  who! 
Guess  who ! 


HER   OWN  WAY  73 

[GEORGIANA  motions  to  the  children  not  to  tell 

and  moves  away. 

DICK.  [Hearing  the  voice  from  where  he  sup 
poses  the  kiss  came,  he  takes  off  the  bandage. 
He  sees  TOOTS  and  is  disappointed.]  Why  —  I 
thought  it  was  Georgiana!  Toots!  You 
rascal ! 

CHRISTOPHER.  [Trying  to  tell.]  But  Mr.  Dick, 
Mr.  Dick ! 

[TOOTS  laughs  and  claps  hands.     GEORGIANA 
gets  hold  of  CHRISTOPHER  and  holds  her  hand 
over    his    mouth.     GEORGIANA    and    CHRIS 
TOPHER  follow  DICK  to  the  door  Left. 
GEORGIANA.   [To    CHRISTOPHER,   to    stop    his 
telling.}     Sh!     [To  DICK.]   Good-by! 
DICK.   Good-by ! 

TOOTS.   [Wanting  to  tell.]   But  — 
PHILIP.   Good-by !     Good-by ! 


74  HER   OWN   WAY 

GEORGIANA.     Good-by     Dick!      Come     soon 
again ! 

DICK.   To-morrow! 

GEORGIANA.   I'll  wait  in  all  day! 

CHRISTOPHER.   But  Mr.  Dick,  it  was — 

[GEORGIANA  hushes  him  with  her  hand  over  his 
mouth. 

GEORGIANA.   Good-by! 

DICK.   Good-by ! 

[He  goes  out  Left. 

CHRISTOPHER,  PHILIP,  AND  TOOTS.   Good-by ! 

[GEORGIANA  bursts  into  tears  and  hugs  TOOTS  on 
top  of  the  table. 

CHRISTOPHER.   But  it  was  you,  Aunt  Georgiana ! 

GEORGIANA.  Don't  any  of  you  tell  on  auntie ! 
You  won't,  will  you?  Let  auntie  have  her  own 
way. 

THE   CURTAIN  FALLS 


ACT  II 

The  drawing-room  at  the  Carleys\  A  hand 
some  room  in  dark  wood,  with  tapestry  on  the 
walls  and  an  old  portrait  built  in  over  the  mantle. 
The  furniture  is  gilt,  Louis  XVI,  covered  with  old 
crimson  brocade.  There  is  a  warmth  about  the 
room,  a  profusion  of  flowers ,  some  books  and 
magazines.  A  piano  in  the  upper  left-hand 
corner,  a  window  with  a  balcony  at  Left.  Doors 
Right  and  Left.  LOUISE  and  MRS.  CARLE Y  are 
replacing  the  furniture,  which  has  been  dis 
arranged.  Out  on  the  balcony  MOLES  is  seen, 
with  PHILIP  and  CHRISTOPHER,  arranging  an 
American  flag  on  the  balcony  balustrade. 
75 


76  HER   OWN  WAY 

LOUISE.   Thank  goodness,  the  luncheon's  over! 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Yes,  I  thought  they'd  never  go, 
and  I've  got  the  Shindle  woman  coming  to  do 
my  hair. 

LOUISE.  I  noticed  it  was  getting  a  little  dark 
at  the  wrong  end,  mother. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  What  was  it  Steve  said  this 
morning  ?  It  was  always  darkest  before  blond ! 
Well,  it's  lucky  I'm  good-natured  so  long  as  I  live 
in  this  family  and  don't  want  to  grow  old. 

LOUISE.   What  are  they  doing  on  the  balcony  ? 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Dick  Coleman's  regiment  marches 
by  here  this  afternoon. 

[She  sits  by  a  table  Right. 

LOUISE.  Do  they  start  for  the  Philippines 
to-day  ? 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Yes,  and  the  President  is  to 
receive  them  in  front  of  the  Plaza. 


HER    OWN   WAY  77 

LOUISE.  [Coming  to  her.]  Have  you  noticed 
Steve? 

MRS.  CARLEY.  No, —  has  he  got  a  new 
suit? 

LOUISE.  No,  something's  troubling  him. 
[Thoughtfully.]  I  believe  he's  been  speculating 
again  and  has  lost. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  He  couldn't;  he  hasn't  got  any 
thing  more  to  lose. 

LOUISE.  [Petulantly.]  He  hasn't  played  with  the 
children  for  a  week  and  he  hates  going  out  so 
lately,  —  wants  to  refuse  every  invitation!  Even 
the  ones  you  and  I've  been  patting  ourselves  on 
the  back  for  getting  !  I  can't  stand  it. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Quite  right,  too  —  if  one  doesn't 
go  out,  where  can  one  go,  and  if  we  don't  go 
anywhere,  what  are  we  to  do?  We  can't  stay 
home.  [Rising,  she  crosses  to  mirror  on  table 


78  HER    OWN   WAY 

Left.]  I  say,  dear,  what  about  having  my  hair  a 
little  redder? 

LOUISE.  Let  me  see !  [MRS.  CARLEY  faces  her 
—  LOUISE  examines  her  critically.]  I  wouldn't 
much;  if  you  do,  people  will  say  you  dye  it. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  I  don't  care  what  they  say,  so 
long  as  they  don't  say  it  to  my  face.  Have  you 
had  yours  massaged  this  morning? 

LOUISE.   Yes,  why? 

[Goes  to  mirror  and,  pushing  MRS.  CARLEY  out 
of  the  way,  examines  her  face  in  the  glass. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Nothing,  only  I  think  you  must 
have  it  done  religiously,  darling;  the  crow's  feet 
are  beginning  to  come. 

[Sits  on  sofa  and  begins  to  crochet  on  an  afghan. 

LOUISE.  Oh,  I'm  worried  to-day  and  besides,  I 
think  our  masseuse  is  getting  careless.  [Turns, 
goes  up  to  MRS.  CARLEY,  and  sits  on  the  sofa.] 


HER   OWN   WAY  79 

I'm  going   to   change   her;   she    never    tells   you 
anything  about  anybody,  anyway. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  I  told  you  that  the  first  day  she 
came.  She  was  positively  rude  the  way  she  re 
fused  to  be  pumped  by  me  about  the  people  next 
door.  Do  you  know  I'm  worried  too.  [Rises, 
gives  LOUISE  her  work,  and  again  looks  in  the 
glass.]  I  think  my  hips  are  getting  bigger. 

LOUISE.  Well,  my  dear  mother,  you  must  have 
hips  sometime  in  your  life,  and  you've  done  pretty 
well.  Look  at  your  friend,  Mrs.  Brint. 

[FOOTMAN  enters  with  tray,  goes  to  table  Right, 
and  collects  the  small  cups  and  saucers. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  My  dear!  when  Sarah  Brint 
was  married  she  looked  like  a  widow!  [LouiSE 
laughs.]  It  made  me  so  mad  seeing  the  people  eat 
everything  the  way  they  did. 

LOUISE.   Mamma,  you're  so  amusing.    Of  course 


8o  HER    OWN   WAY 

we  do  have  good  food;  we  must  get  people  here 
somehow. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  And  I  not  daring  to  eat  a  thing ! 
Why  is  it  nice  things  are  all  fattening  ? 

[The  FOOTMAN  goes  out. 

LOUISE.  [Rises  and  comes  to  MRS.  CARLEY.] 
Does  it  strike  you  that  this  dress  of  mine  makes 
me  look  too  short- waisted  ? 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Turn  round.  [LOUISE  does  so.] 
Yes !  don't  wear  it  again. 

LOUISE.  [Irritated.]  Why  didn't  you  tell  me 
before  lunch? 

MRS.  CARLEY.  I  didn't  notice  it ! 

LOUISE.  [Angry.  Turns  to  mirror  and  then  to 
MRS.  CARLEY.]  That's  just  it !  You  don't  care  ! 
You  don't  think  of  me  ever!  You  only  think  of 
yourself ! 

MRS.  CARLEY.   [Angry.]    That's  not  true.    I've 


HER   OWN   WAY  81 

sacrificed  my  life  for  you,  and  for  what 
good? 

LOUISE.  What  good!  Good  heavens,  haven't 
Steve  and  I  done  everything  for  you,  lugged  you 
into  the  best  position  almost  in  New  York  ? 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Yes,  that's  just  it,  "almost!" 
Your  husband  hates  me  and  you  back  him  up — 
and  keep  me  in  the  background ! 

LOUISE.  I  couldn't !  You  wouldn't  stay  there. 
[With  a  disagreeable  laugh. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Sits  in  chair  left  of  the  table.] 
That's  it,  insult  me,  —  but  I've  had  enough !  I've 
made  up  my  mind,  anyway,  to  leave  your  house 
and  live  by  myself. 

[Whimpering. 

LOUISE.     Oh,    stop,  mamma.      You  know    I 
didn't  mean  anything.     I'm  sorry! 
Mrs.  CARLEY.   [Crying.]    No,  I'm  in  the  way. 


82  HER   OWN   WAY 

LOUISE.  You're  not  in  the  way.  You  know 
I  couldn't  live  without  my  darling  pretty  little 
mamma.  Please  stop  crying  and  kiss  me. 

[Puts  her  arms   around  her. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Still  crying.]  I  haven't  any 
body  in  the  world  but  you. 

LOUISE.  Don't  I  know  that,  don't  I  know  I 
couldn't  get  on  without  you !  There !  [Kisses  her.] 
Now  it's  all  right.  Come  on,  darling,  come  up 
and  get  your  hair  dyed. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Pleasantly.]  Sh!  don't  call  it 
that! 

LOUISE.  I  am  irritable  lately,  I  know  it  —  but 
I  see  without  our  money  even  Steve  couldn't  get 
us  a  decent  position.  We  might  just  as  well  face 
the  truth.  Certain  people  don't  appreciate  you 
and  me,  mamma.  We  aren't  even  acquired 
tastes. 


HER    OWN   WAY  83 

MRS.  CARLEY.  No  one  ever  appreciated  me 
long.  I  was  prettier  than  you  were  at  your  age, 
and  my  husbands  both  fell  in  love  with  me  at 
first  sight.  But  I  never  wore  well. 

[She  takes  a  magazine  from  the  table  and  begins 
to  cut  the  pages. 

LOUISE.  I  wonder  if  Georgiana  will  marry 
Sammy ! 

MRS.  CARLEY.   I  wish  to  goodness  she   would. 

LOUISE.  I  believe  she's  in  love  with  Mr.  Cole- 
man. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  No,  they've  always  known  each 
other. 

LOUISE.   Well,  some  people  wear  better   than 

we  do,  that's    all!  and    I  believe  she's    in    love 

with  him,  whether  either  of  them  know  it  or  not. 

[GEORGIANA    comes    in     Left     with    BELLA 

SHINDLE.    Miss  SHINDLE  is  a  florid,  buxom 


84  HER    OWN   WAY 

young  person,  pleased  with  herself  and 
all  the  world.  She  carries  several  pack 
ages. 

GEORGIANA.  Here's  Bella,  mother. 
EVERYBODY.  How  are  you,  Bella  ? 
GEORGIANA.  All  your  guests  gone? 
[She  sits  left  of  table.  MRS.  CARLEY  goes  back 

of  table,  and  LOUISE  moves  to  the  right. 
MRS.    CARLEY.   Yes,    thank    goodness!    You 
might  have  been  here. 

GEORGIANA.  You    know    I    can't    stand   your 
would-be  smart  parties! 

LOUISE.   I  think  they're    always    angry  when 
they  don't  see  you. 

GEORGIANA.   Nonsense!    Did  you  have  a  good 
time  ?    Pick  everybody  else  to  pieces  ? 

LOUISE.    No,  we  all  said   nice    things    about 
Mrs.  Lothman. 


HER    OWN   WAY  85 

GEORGIANA.  Mercy!  What's  the  matter  with 
her? 

LOUISE.  My  dear,  she's  a  perfect  nonentity;  she 
might  just  as  well  not  exist. 

GEORGIANA.  [Amused.]  Well,  to  tell  the  truth, 
I  don't  care  much  about  her  myself.  She's 
one  of  those  boring  creatures  who  when  you  ask 
her  how  she  is?  really  tells  you  ! 

MRS.  CARLEY.  You  with  fancy  work !  What 
in  the  world  are  you  doing  ? 

GEORGIANA.   I  am  knitting  a  tie  for  Dick! 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Good  gracious.  Well,  I'll  go 
upstairs  and  get  into  something  loose.  I'll  be 
ready  in  ten  minutes. 

[She  goes  out  Right. 

LOUISE.  I  must  see  the  children;  I  haven't 
seen  them  to-day. 

[She  follows  her  mother  out. 


86  HER    OWN   WAY 

BELLA.   Miss  Carley. 

GEORGIANA.   Yes,  Bella. 

BELLA.  Mr.  Coleman,  Lieutenant  Coleman,  is 
going  to  the  Philippines  to-day. 

GEORGIANA.  [Sighing  involuntarily.]  Yes, 
Bella. 

BELLA.   I've  got  a  friend  going  along. 

GEORGIANA.  In  the  company? 

BELLA.  Yes  —  well,  I  don't  mind  telling  you  — 
he's  my  young  man,  Miss  Carley. 

GEORGIANA.  Why,  Bella,  I  didn't  know  you  were 
engaged? 

BELLA.  Well,  I  don't  know  as  you'd  call  it 
exactly,  yes  I  would  say  as  we  was  engaged  — 
though  I  haven't  got  a  ring.  But  we're  going  to 
get  married  when  he  comes  back,  if  hugging  and 
kissing  is  binding,  which  I  guess,  with  witnesses ! 
He  wanted  to  give  me  a  ring  of  his  mother's,  but 


HER    OWN   WAY  87 

I  said  "No,"  I  wouldn't  take  that,  it  was  sacred 
and  he'd  always  wore  it.  You  see  it  was  an  old- 
fashioned-looking  sort  of  onyx  stone  with  oyster 
pearls,  and  not  for  me  —  I'd  rather  wait. 

GEORGIANA.  You  have  an  eye  out  on  the  main 
chance,  Bella. 

BELLA.  Well,  I  wasn't  born  yesterday.  Say,  all 
the  girls  was  crazy  about  him.  I  met  him  to  danc 
ing  school  Tuesday  evenings  at  Adelphi  Hall  and 
we  started  right  in,  every  Sunday  night  to  church 
and  every  Saturday  to  the  theatre.  He  enjoyed 
Sundays  best  and  I  Saturdays,  but  I  felt  it  was 
because  church  was  cheapest.  He's  dreadful 
economical. 

GEORGIANA.  You  get  more  attention  than  I 
do  from  my  soldier.  You  at  least  have  the  conso 
lation  of  knowing  you're  the  girl  he's  left  behind. 

BELLA.   'Tain't  much  consolation  if  I  get  left 


88  HER    OWN   WAY 

for  good  1  Say,  will  you  ask  Mr.  Coleman  to  sort 
o'  look  after  him  ?  Ask  him  to  please  put  him  in  the 
back  row  when  there's  fighting  —  and  keep  an  eye 
on  his  health.  I'm  afraid  it's  dreadful  damp 
being  a  soldier;  and  do  you  know  that  man 
actually  catches  cold  if  he  forgets  his  rubbers  and 
it  sprinkles? 

GEORGIANA.  I  don't  think  he  ought  to  go  if  he's 
so  delicate;  Mr.  Coleman  will  take  an  interest  in 
your  friend,  I  know,  if  I  ask  him.  What's  his 
name? 

BELLA.   Mr.  Gootch. 

GEORGIANA.  Mr.  Gootch!  Yes,  I  can  remember 
that.  But,  you  see,  if  he's  a  soldier  he  must  do 
his  duty,  whatever  it  is. 

BELLA.  There's  no  holding  him  back!  He's 
jus'  as  likely  as  not  to  lose  his  position  at  Snipleys, 
Crabford  &  Snipleys,  too,  but  he  will  go !  It's 


HER    OWN   WAY  89 

surprising  to  see  a  man  with  such  a  weak  chest 
and  delicate  feet,  so  awful  brave  and  persistent. 

LOUISE.  [Coming  back.]  I  bore  the  children 
to  death,  so  I  left  them.  What  are  all  these 
bundles,  Bella? 

BELLA.  Christmas  presents.  This  is  just  the 
time  of  the  year  to  buy,  you  know,  you  can  get 
such  bargains !  and  if  there's  one  thing  I  think 
nicer'n  anything  else  to  get  cheap,  it's  Christmas 
presents. 

GEORGIANA.  You  should  do  like  Mrs.  Carley, 
Bella,  save  half  of  the  things  you  get  one  year  to 
give  away  the  next. 

[She   sits  by  the  table  and  goes   on  with   her 

work. 

LOUISE.  I  always  do  that.  I  get  so  many  things 
I  can't  bear. 

GEORGIANA.  But  you  must  be  careful  not   to 


90  HER   OWN   WAY 

send  them  back  to  the  same  place  they  came  from ! 
That  has  happened. 

LOUISE.    Georgiana ! 

[BELLA  laughs  out  loud  and  sits  on  the  sofa. 
LOUISE  sits  opposite  GEORGIANA. 

GEORGIANA.  What  have  you  got?  Sit  down 
and  tell  us. 

BELLA.  Thank  you,  ma'am.  [Delighted  with  the 
opportunity.  Taking  up  the  different  parcels.] 
Well,  I've  got  an  elegant  pair  of  scissors  for  mother, 
marked  down  because  of  a  flaw  in  the  steel,  but 
she's  near-sighted,  and  she  don't  want  to  use  'em  any 
way —  it's  just  to  feel  she  has  another  pair.  Scis 
sors  is  mother's  fad  —  sort  of  born  in  her,  I  guess, 
for  my  mother's  mother  was  a  kind  of  dress 
maker.  She  didn't  have  robes  and  mantucks  over 
her  door,  you  know, — she  was  too  swell  for  that, — 
she  went  out  by  the  day !  And  this  is  a  real  bronze 


HER    OWN   WAY  91 

Louis  ink-stand  for  my  sister's  husband,  only  cost 
thirty-nine  cents  and  hasn't  got  a  thing  the  mat 
ter  with  it,  so  long  as  you  don't  see  the  others 
-  if  you  see  the  others,  you'll  observe  that  there's 
a  naked  lady  missing  off  the  top  part  which  I'm 
glad  of  anyway  as  I'm  giving  it  to  a  gentleman, 
and  he'll  never  see  the  others  besides.  And  this  is 
two  boxes  of  writing  paper;  aren't  they  huge! 
awful  cheap  with  a  lovely  picture  of  an  actress 
on  top  —  Lillian  Russell  in  Mice  and  Men,  I  think, 
on  one,  and  Jean  Duresk  the  Opera  Singer  in 
Lonegrind  on  the  other.  The  boxes  'av  got  false 
bottoms  —  so  there  ain't  very  much  writing  ma 
terial,  but  the  rich  effect's  there  all  the  same. 

GEORGIANA.   [Laughing.]    Bella,  you're  a  won 
derful  shopper ! 

BELLA.   And  this  is  a  copy  of  Homer's  Iliad  for 
my  sister.     Do  you  know  it?    Is  it  nice?    Any- 


92  HER    OWN   WAY 

thing  like  Hall  Caine's  works,  or  Mary  Corelli's  ? 
She's  always  been  my  sister's  favorite  writeress. 
You  see  they've  got  a  whole  counter  of  these  beau 
tifully  bound  in  red  and  gold,  and  only  nineteen 
cents.  But  it's  so  hard  to  decide  which  to  buy. 
I've  about  decided  now  to  take  this  back  and  change 
it  for  Lucille.  Which  do  you  think  my  sister'd  like 
best,  Homer's  Iliad  or  Lucille  ? 

GEORGIANA.  I  believe  she'd  prefer  Lucille,  and 
besides  half  the  fun  in  shopping  is  in  the  changing 
one's  mind  and  taking  things  back,  don't  you  think 
so? 

BELLA.   Yes,  ma'am,  I  think  so. 

[MOLES  enters  Left. 

MOLES.  Mr.  Coast  to  see  Miss  Georgiana, 
please. 

[BELLA  rises. 

GEORGIANA.   Did  you  say  I  was  in? 


HER   OWN   WAY  93 

MOLES.     Yes,  miss. 

GEORGIANA.     What  a  bore  !    Very  well,  Moles. 

[He  goes  out. 
BELLA.   I'll  be  going  up  to  Mrs.  Carley,  now. 

[Goes  toward  the  door  Right. 

GEORGIANA.   Wait  a  minute,  Bella.     I  want  you 

to  do  something  for  me.    Entertain  Sammy,  Louise, 

till  I  come  back. 

[She  goes  out  with  BELLA. 

LOUISE.   I  never  was  able  to  entertain  Sammy, 
but  I'll  do  my  best. 

[COAST  enters,  announced  by  MOLES,  who  im 
mediately  exits. 

COAST.   Hello,  Lou,  how  goes  it? 

LOUISE.   Beastly! 

COAST.   Where's  Miss  Georgiana? 

LOUISE.   She'll  be  down  in  a  minute.     Sam,  do 
you  know  what's  the  matter  with  Steve? 


94  HER    OWN   WAY 

COAST.   Probably  he's  been  losing. 

LOUISE.   Whose  money? 

COAST.   Everybody's. 

LOUISE.   But  can't  you  help  him? 

COAST.   No;  it's  not  my  business. 

[Sits  on  the  sofa,  putting  the  pillows  out  of  his 
way. 

LOUISE.  But  he's  my  husband,  and  you're  my 
cousin. 

COAST.  What's  the  difference?  Twenty  years 
ago,  when  your  father  was  rich  as  Croesus  and  my 
guv'ner  and  I  up  a  stump  for  —  tobacco,  anyway, 
if  not  for  bread,  did  he  lift  a  finger  to  help  us? 
not  on  your  life !  That  lets  me  out !  Every  man 
for  himself  —  and  listen,  if  I  wanted  to  starve  I 
could  lose  a  real  good  fortune  through  Steve  Carley, 
without  any  outside  help. 

LOUISE.   I  told  mother  you'd  be  like  that. 


HER   OWN   WAY  95 

COAST.  We're  all  pretty  much  alike;  she'd 
recognize  the  Coast  family. 

LOUISE.  If  you  were  married  to  Georgiana, 
you  couldn't  ignore  her  brother.  She  isn't  like 
us. 

COAST.  Well,  if  I  could  get  Georgiana,  [Going 
to  LOUISE.]  I'd  be  willing  to  do  a  good  deal. 
She's  the  only  woman  I  can  see  in  this  world  my 
size. 

LOUISE.  So  I  guessed,  but  if  Dick  Coleman 
proposes  before  he  goes  to  the  Philippines,  I 
wouldn't  give  much  for  your  chances. 

COAST.  Listen,  Lou;  did  you  ever  know  me 
to  lose  anything  I'd  set  my  mind  on  getting. 

LOUISE.   No. 

COAST.  Well  I  mean  to  marry  Georgiana,  Dick 
Coleman  or  no  Dick  Coleman.  No,  I'll  put  it 
different  from  that.  I  mean  to  make  her  love  me, 


96  HER    OWN   WAY 

because,  by  God,  I  love  that  woman  so  I'd  do 
anything,  commit  a  crime  almost,  to  get  her. 

[STEVEN  enters  Left  and  COAST  goes  up  to  the 
mantel. 

LOUISE.   Steve,  aren't  you  up  town  early? 

STEVEN.   A  little. 

[Sits  Left.     MOLES  enters. 

MOLES.   Beg  pardon,  sir. 

LOUISE.   What  is  it,  Moles? 

MOLES.  [To  LOUISE.]  Mr.  Carley,  m'm.  [To 
STEVEN.]  Could  I  speak  with  you  a  few  moments, 
sir? 

STEVEN.   I'm  very  busy  to-day,  Moles. 

MOLES.  But  have  you  noticed  sir,  this  morning, 
United  Copper  is  lower. 

STEVEN.  It  can't  be  helped  — go  about  your 
business. 

MOLES.   But  for  heaven's  sake,  Mr.  Carley  — 


HER    OWN   WAY  97 

you  said  yesterday  if  it  dropped  another  point  and 
we  couldn't  give  up  any  more  money,  Lizzie  and 
me'd  both  lose  everything  we  had. 

STEVEN.  I'm  sorrier  than  I  can  say,  but  there 
are  lots  of  others  worse  off  than  you. 

[GEORGIANA  re'enters  Right. 

COAST.  [Cynically  to  STEVEN.]  You  don't  mean 
to  say  you've  been  speculating  with  Moles's  money. 

LOUISE.   Moles! 

STEVEN.  It  was  for  himself,  not  me,  I  put 
him  in. 

MOLES.  And  Lizzie,  sir.  And  we'd  counted  it 
up,  how  if  we  made  all  you  said,  we  could  leave 
service  soon,  sir,  and  we  could  afford  a  small 
house  in  the  country  with  say  four  rooms  and 
one  baby  — Lizzie  doing  her  own  work. 

LOUISE.  Do  you  mean  to  say,  Steve,  that  your 
own  servants  have  lost  their  earnings  through  you  ? 


98  HER   OWN   WAY 

MOLES.  Yes,  m'm. 

STEVEN.   [Doggedly.]    Put  it  that  way  if  you 
like.     I  meant  to  do  them  a  good  turn. 

LOUISE.   But  we  can't    let    that    happen;    we 
must  pay  them  back ! 

COAST.   [Amused.]    Bully  for  you,  Louise!  get 
ting  generous  in  your  old  age. 

LOUISE.   It  would  ruin  us  socially  if  it  got  out! 

COAST.   Oh,  I  see ! 

MOLES.   Mr.  Carley  said  it  was  sure,  ma'am. 

[COAST  laughs  a  rather  coarse  laugh. 

STEVEN.   For  heaven's  sake,  Coast !     Go  away, 

Moles. 

[MOLES  goes  out  Left. 

COAST.   [To  STEVEN.]    Are  they  holding  on  for 
you? 

STEVEN.   They  said  they'd  give  me  till  to-morrow 

to  put  up  more  security. 

[Sits  Right. 


HER    OWN   WAY  99 

COAST.   What  do  you  need? 

[No  answer. 

LOUISE.   How  much  more  security,  Steve? 

[Goes  to  STEVE. 

STEVEN.   Say  a  hundred  and  fifty  thousand. 

[COAST  whistles. 

LOUISE.   He'd  better  hold  on,  Sam,  hadn't  he; 
what  do  you  think  of  the  stock? 

COAST.   Don't  ask  me. 

LOUISE.   We've   got   to   risk  it,   anyway.     Use 
some  of  my  bonds,  Steve. 

STEVEN.   Louise! 

LOUISE.   Yes,  I  mean  it,  we  must. 

STEVEN.   You  don't  understand  me  —  we  can't 
use  your  security. 

LOUISE.   Why  not? 

STEVEN.   [Rising  and  half  turning  away.}     Not 
—  again. 


ioo  HER    OWN   WAY 

LOUISE.   How  do  you  mean  "again  "  ? 

STEVEN.  Your  money  is  all  there,  all,  already 
buried  in  it ! 

LOUISE.   All  my  money?    All  of   it! 

STEVEN.  Yes,  I  wanted  to  win  back  your 
mother's,  I  wanted  — 

{Interrupted. 

LOUISE.  [Beside  herself.]  You  wanted!  You 
wanted  ! !  You  wanted  ! ! !  To  ruin  us,  that  is  what 
I  should  say  you  wanted  to  do !  —  Do  you  mean  to 
say,  behind  my  back,  you've  gambled  away  every 
cent  I  have,  as  well  as  all  my  mother's  money !  ? ! 

GEORGIANA.   No !    it's  not  possible  —  Steve ! 
[Comes  between  STEVEN  and  LOUISE. 

STEVEN.   When  did  you  come  in,  Georgy? 

LOUISE.  Georgy!  [No  answer;  she  continues 
hysterically.]  He  can't  deny  it;  it's  true !  And  it's 
rank  dishonesty,  that's  what  it  is !  You've  robbed 


HER   OWN   WA?  cot 

me,  you've  robbed  my  mother,  you've  robbed  your 
own  children  !  The  papers  will  call  you  a  — 

STEVEN.  \Interrupting.~\  That's  not  true!  I 
had  control  of  your  money  —  to  do  with  as  I 
choose,  and  I  did  what  I  thought  was  for  the 
best. 

LOUISE.  You've  never  done  anything  for  me 
that  wasn't  for  the  worst ! 

[Walking  up  and  down  excitedly. 

GEORGIANA.  Louise! 

LOUISE.  It's  true !  If  I  can  save  a  cent  out  of 
this  ruin,  I'll  take  it  and  the  children  away  from 
you !  I'll  never  live  with  you  again !  I'll  show 
you  up  to  all  your  smart  friends  who've  snubbed 
me !  I'll  send  you  to  state  prison  if  I  can  ! 

[Sits  in  the  arm-chair  down  Left. 

COAST.  Shut  up,  Lou  !  You'd  better  get  a  little 
legal  advice  before  you  start  on  that  track. 


"  io2  HER    OWN    WAY 

GEORGIANA.  Louise! 

[Goes   to    LOUISE. 

LOUISE.  Well,  what  have  you  got  to  say  ?  My 
mother  brought  you  up,  was  a  second  mother  to 
your  brother  who  ruined  us,  but  you've  got  your 
money,  I  suppose.  You've  been  clever  enough  to 
keep  your  money  in  your  own  hands,  —  you  and 
he  will  always  have  enough ! 

[Crying  hysterically. 

GEORGIANA.  Will  you  listen  to  me  and  let  me 
say  what  I'm  trying  to? 

LOUISE.  [Bursting  into  floods  of  tears,  over 
whelmed  with  sympathy  for  herself.]  He's  broken 
my  heart!  That's  what  he's  done;  broken  my 
heart ! 

GEORGIANA.  [Going  to  LOUISE.]  Oh,  no,  he 
hasn't,  Louise,  he's  only  broken  your  bank,  and 
you  don't  know  the  difference.  I  want  to  say  to 


HER   OWN   WAY  103 

you  now,  —  that  all  Steve  needed  was  real  love, 
and  the  guiding  hand  of  a  true,  sensible  woman  — 

STEVEN.  [Interrupting  her,  goes  to  GEORGIANA. 
GEORGIANA  turns  to  STEVE.]  No,  Georgy!  You 
mustn't  blame  Louise !  I  love  her  and  always 
will,  just  as  she  is.  She  doesn't  mean  all  she  says 
now  —  she's  angry,  and  she  has  a  right  to  be  — 
I'm  one  of  those  men  who  never  succeed  —  who 
never  have  any  luck,  and  it's  bad  luck  for  her  to 
have  to  share  mine. 

GEORGIANA.  Well,  what's  done's  done?  But,  as 
Louise  says,  my  money's  left. 

STEVEN.  Yes,  but  — 

GEORGIANA.   Mine  must  do  for  all  of  us. 

COAST.  [Strongly.]  Excuse  me,  but  I'll  see 
that  Louise  and  her  mother  don't  suffer;  you  keep 
your  money. 

GEORGIANA.  No,  that's  not  the  point,  Sam.     I 


104  HER   OWN   WAY 

asked  you  once  to  give  my  brother  advice  and  you 
refused.  You  might  have  prevented  this,  and  now 
we  can  get  along  without  your  money.  Steve 
won't  have  to  go  out  of  his  own  family  to  make  up 
as  far  as  he  can  for  what  he's  lost  out  of  yours. 

[SAM  turns  away  to  the  mantel. 

STEVEN.  Georgy !  O  Georgy !  You're  an  angel ! 
[Hugging  her  and  kissing  her  in  a  transport  oj 
relief.]  I'll  get  out  of  it,  you'll  see!  I'll  cover 
myself  to-morrow.  I  can  do  that  with  your  Croton 
Bonds  and  your  Mutual  Life  and  a  couple  of 
mortgages,  and  we'll  win  in  the  end,  and  Louise 
get  hers  back  and  mother  too  — !  [His  arm 
about  his  wife.]  It's  sure  in  the  end,  it's  got  to  be, 
Louise. 

[There  is  no  response  from  LOUISE. 

GEORGIANA.  Steven,  I  have  a  condition  about 
my  money. 


HER   OWN   WAY  105 

STEVEN.   [Crest/alien.]    What? 

GEORGIANA.  It  isn't  to  be  used  as  you  think. 
If  I'm  to  help  you,  it  must  be  in  my  own  way. 

STEVEN.   How  do  you  mean  ? 

GEORGIANA.  What's  lost  is  lost.  I  have  be 
tween  five  and  six  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
and  we  must  all  live  on  the  income  of  that.  And 
you  must  give  your  word  of  honor  never  to  gam 
ble  in  stocks  again. 

[SAM  comes  back  to  front  of  table. 

LOUISE.  [To  STEVEN,  suddenly  realizing  it 
again.]  You  let  all  my  money  go? 

GEORGIANA.  [To  LOUISE.]  I  will  share  what  I 
have  with  you. 

STEVEN.  [To  GEORGIANA.]  But  you  must  let 
me  try  to  get  back  — 

GEORGIANA.  [Interrupting.]  It  would  only  be 
throwing  good  money  after  bad  ! 


io6  HER   OWN   WAY 

COAST.  [Sardonically.]  How  about  Moles  and 
Lizzie  ? 

GEORGIANA.  Don't  you  worry  about  them! 
Moles  and  Lizzie  shall  have  their  money  back,  of 
course. 

STEVEN.  But  I  can't1  do  it,  Georgy.  It's  losing 
—  why  it's  like  losing  a  million  to  us ! 

GEORGIANA.  Suppose  you  went  on  speculating 
with  my  money,  and  it  went  the  same  way  as 
Louise's  and  her  mother's? 

COAST.   And  Lizzie's  and  Moles  ? 

STEVEN.   But  it  can't  —  it  can't  I 

[STEVEN  sits  on  the  sofa.  GEORGIANA  sits  be 
side  STEVEN.  LOUISE  is  still  in  the  arm-chair 
Left. 

GEORGIANA.  O  Steve !  I  Ve  heard  that  so  often. 
[A  pause.]  You  were  always  a  straight  boy,  Steve, 
and  you  always  kept  your  word.  Your  notion  of 


HER    OWN   WAY  107 

honor,  it  seems  to  me,  in  little  things  hasn't  been 
so  strong  lately,  as  this  fever  of  speculation  grew  on 
you,  but  still  you  are  the  same  Steve  and  you've 
never  lied  about  your  transactions ;  so  I  have 
faith  in  you.  Now  let's  settle  this  once  and  for 
all  and  my  way  I 

STEVEN.   It's  very  hard,  Georgiana. 

LOUISE.  We  can  never  all  of  us  live  on  your 
income  —  not  as  we're  used  to. 

GEORGIANA.  That's  true.  Come,  Steve.  Give 
me  your  word  never  to  go  into  another 
speculation  and  let's  throw  it  off  for  to-day. 
Dick's  coming  to  say  good-by.  Let's  give 
him  happy  memories  of  us,  at  least  to  take 
away  with  him.  [A  moment's  pause.}  Come, 
Steve? 

STEVEN.   [Low  voice.]    All  right. 

GEORGIANA.  No  more  speculating ;  you'll  give 


io8  HER   OWN   WAY 

me  your  word  —  [STEVEN  rises,  GEORGIANA  rises. 
STEVEN  nods  his  head.]  —  of  honor,  Steve? 
STEVEN.  Yes! 

[Nods  his  head. 
GEORGIANA.  Then  that's  settled. 

[Gives  SAM  a  calm,  defiant  look. 

STEVEN.   O  Georgy !    I  don't  seem  grateful,  but 

I  am.     I  can't  tell  you!     I  can't  say!     But  it's 

wonderful   what   you're   doing!     God  bless  you! 

[Puts  his  arms  on  GEORGIAN  A 's  shoulders. 

GEORGIANA.   [With    emotion,    almost    breaking 

down.]    That's  all  right,  Steve.     We'll  begin  all 

over  again. 

[She  kisses  him. 

LOUISE.   [To  GEORGIANA.]    I  suppose  I  ought 
to  thank  you  too. 

GEORGIANA.   No,  don't  bother.     Come  upstairs 
and  have  your  hair  shampooed.     Bella  must  have 


HER   OWN  WAY  109 

painted  mother  red  enough  by  now;   it'll  rest  you 
and  do  you  good. 

LOUISE.  After  all,  you're  no  real  relation  of 
ours,  and  you've  done  a  fine  thing. 

GEORGIANA.  [Very  simply.]  Don't  talk  about 
it.  I  wish  it  were  more.  I  realize  fully  what  it 
means  to  your  mother  and  you  to  have  all  your 
money  gone.  But  we'll  put  our  shoulders  to  the 
wheel  and  make  the  best  of  it.  Come,  dear, 
come. 

[She  goes  out  Right.    LOUISE  is  about  to  follow, 
but  is  stopped  by  STEVEN. 

STEVEN.   Louise,  do  you  forgive  me? 

LOUISE.  No,  you  ought  to  have  asked  my  ad 
vice  —  let  me  know. 

STEVEN.  But  when  I  used  to  talk  to  you  about 
money  matters,  dear,  you  always  begged  me  not  to 
bother  you. 


no  HER   OWN   WAY 

LOUISE.   I  don't  care,  this  is  different.     Sam ! 

[Nodding  good-by. 

COAST.  Do  you  mind  my  joining  you  to  see  the 
procession  go  by  at  five  ? 

LOUISE.  No! 

[She  goes  out  Right. 

STEVEN.  What  procession? 

COAST.   Coleman's  regiment. 

[He  puts  his  feet  upon  small  gilt  chair  beside 
the  table. 

STEVEN.  Oh,  yes!  Well  —  I've  made  a  pretty 
big  mess  of  things.  I'm  not  fit  to  live,  that's  what's 
the  trouble  with  me. 

COAST.  Oh,  you  must  take  everything  in  the 
day's  work ;  but  it's  a  pity  she  made  you  give  her 
that  promise. 

STEVEN.  Why? 

COAST.   [Goes  to  him.]    You  all  can't  live  on  the 


HER   OWN  WAY  in 

income  from  five  hundred  thousand  dollars.     Now 
there'll  be  a  bust  up  sure ! 

STEVEN.   Ss!  that's  all  I  need. 

[Sits  on  the  sofa. 

COAST.   That  promise  of  yours  to   Georgiana's 
binding,  ain't  it? 

STEVEN.   [Looks  up.]    Of  course.    Why? 

COAST.  No  why. 

[A  pause. 

STEVEN.  You  think  United  Copper  will  go  up 
again  ? 

COAST.   If  not,  I  know  something  that  will. 

STEVEN.   Something  you're  in  yourself  ? 

COAST.  Yes. 

STEVEN.  And  you'd  put  me  on  ? 

COAST.   Yep.    I  don't  think  there's  any  other 
way  out  of  this  for  you  all. 

STEVEN.  Sam! 


112  HER   OWN   WAY 

[He  rises. 

COAST.  It's  absolutely  safe. 

STEVEN.  I  could  get  it  back?  Some,  anyway, 
of  what  I've  lost? 

COAST.   Sure !  — 

STEVEN.   But  I  gave  Georgiana  my  word. 

COAST.  Of  course  she  got  that  promise  out  of 
you  because  she  thought  you'd  lose  again. 

STEVEN.   Yes,  but  my  word  is  my  word. 

COAST.  Do  you  suppose  she'd  mind,  if  you 
won,  won  back  Louise's  money,  won  back  the 
girl's  happiness? 

STEVEN.  Suppose  I  tell  her  what  you  can  do 
and  ask  her  to  let  me  off  this  once? 

COAST.  No,  women  don't  understand  business. 
She  wouldn't  realize  7  can  know  I'd  win,  any  more 
than  you  feel  sure  and  lose. 

STEVEN.  Yes,  it  would  do  no  good  to  ask  her. 


HER   OWN  WAY  113 

COAST.  Too  bad,  because  I'd  guarantee  you 
wouldn't  lose,  not  this  deal.  Of  course  I  wouldn't 
be  responsible  for  any  future  transaction. 

STEVEN.  But  I'd  be  satisfied  with  this  one,  if 
I  got  back 'my  losses. 

COAST.  I  don't  say  you'd  get  back  all,  in  one 
deal,  but  a  good  start  which  might  turn  your  luck. 

STEVEN.  It's  always  like  that;  I've  known  such 
cases  over  and  over  again.  But  I've  never  yet 
broken  my  word  to  Georgiana,  —  somehow  or 
other  I  feel  as  if  I  did  that  once  I  wouldn't  have 
any  hold  over  myself. 

COAST.  I  don't  suppose  you  could  get  at  her 
securities  anyway  this  afternoon  ? 

STEVEN.  Oh,  yes,  I  could.  We  have  our  deposit 
box  together. 

COAST.   Don't  you  think  she'd  forgive  you  when 
it  means  such  a  lot  to  Louise  and  her  mother  ? 
i 


H4  HER   OWN  WAY 

STEVEN.   Why  shouldn't  she  ? 

COAST.  Why  don't  you  risk  it?  That  promise 
was  just  to  keep  you  from  losing,  and  this  time  I'll 
see  you  don't  lose  —  so  why  not  ? 

STEVEN.  By  George,  I  will!  Georgiana  really 
can't  blame  me  when  there's  so  much  at  stake. 

COAST.   Can  you  get  the  stuff  to-day  ? 

STEVEN.  [Looks  at  his  watch.]  Yes,  if  I 
hurry. 

COAST.  All  right,  go  ahead.  I'll  come  to  your 
office  to-morrow  at  nine.  Listen  —  I  ain't  sup 
posed,  of  course,  to  have  anything  to  do  with 
this  —  and  when  you  get  it,  don't  go  giving  my  tip 
to  other  chumps. 

STEVEN.   Oh,  no. 

COAST.  What  you  do  is  on  your  own  responsi 
bility? 

STEVEN.  Exactly,  only  you  guarantee  ? 


HER    OWN    WAY  115 

COAST.   That  you  don't  lose  this  time.     [Looking 
at  his  watch.]     You'd  better  hurry. 

STEVEN.   Thank  you,  Sam. 

[Shakes  his  hand. 

COAST.    Oh,  that's  all  right.    Say,  I  want  to  marry 
your  sister.     No  objection  on  your  part,  is  there  ? 

STEVEN.   Well,  I  should  say  not ! 

COAST.   She  don't  seem  to  cotton  to  me. 

STEVEN.   She  doesn't  know  you. 

COAST.   Do  you  think  if  she  was  up  a  tree  for 
funds  she'd  look  at  me  any  kinder? 

STEVEN.  Not  a  bit. 

COAST.   Some  women  do. 

STEVEN.   Not  Georgiana !     Good-by. 

COAST.   [To  STEVE.]    So  long. 

[STEVEN  turns  to  go,  but  stops  as  MOLES  shows 
COLEMAN  into  the  room.  The  latter  is  dressed 
in  his  uniform  of  first  lieutenant. 


Ii6  HER    OWN   WAY 

DICK.   Hello,  Steven !    Hello,  Coast ! 

COAST.   We  gates ! 

STEVEN.   How  are  you,  Dick  ?    Excuse  me,  I'm 
in  a  hurry.    You're  off  to-day  ? 

DICK.   Yes,  I've  come  to  shake  hands. 

STEVEN.   Good-by,  old  man,  and  good  luck  — 
sorry  to  have  to  go !     Good-by ! 

[Shakes  hands  warmly,  with  feeling. 

DICK.    Good-by. 

[STEVEN  goes  out  Left. 

COAST.   [Sitting  Right.]    Oh,  I  guess  she  ain't 
so  different. 

DICK.   Who? 

COAST.   Georgiana,  she's  just  a  woman/ 

DICK.   No,  take  my  word  for  it,  she's  not  a 
woman,  she's  the  woman. 

[Sits  on  the  piano  bench. 


HER    OWN   WAY  117 

COAST.  'Spose  she  likes  money  and  nice  things 
always  about  her? 

DICK.  She's  always  had  them,  —  and  always 
would  if  I  could  help  give  them  to  her. 

COAST.  Huh,  huh!  Well  — say,  Steve's  got 
himself  in  a  devil  of  a  hole !  Speculated  with  his 
wife's  money  —  and  they're  broke. 

DICK.   Good  God,  what  do  you  mean? 

[Rises. 

COAST.  What  I  say.  Steve  is  one  of  those  good- 
hearted  gulls  who's  a  blame  slob  on  the  money 
market,  and  he's  gone  under  to  the  extent  of  Aunt 
Laura's  and  Louise's  spondulix,  that's  all. 

[He    is    rather    amused.      DICK  goes   back   of 
table,  puts  his  hat  on  it. 

DICK.   What  are  they  going  to  do? 

COAST.  Georgiana  wants  to  pony  up  like  a 
brick  and  keep  the  whole  lot! 


n8  HER   OWN   WAY 

DICK.   Just  like  her  I 

COAST.  Oh,  of  course,  I'll  see  Georgiana  don't 
really  lose  by  it  in  no  way  in  the  end. 

DICK.  You  will  ? 

COAST.  Why  of  course ! 

DICK.  She  isn't  going  to  let  Steve  speculate 
with  her  money,  is  she? 

COAST.  Can't  say. 

[A  pause. 

DICK.  Look  here,  I'd  like  to  help  Steve  myself, 
if  I  thought  I  could  protect  Georgiana.  I'll  let 
Steve  have  some  money.  You  needn't  say  any 
thing  to  anybody.  How  much  will  see  him 
through  ? 

COAST.  That's  real  good  of  you,  but  I  couldn't 
let  outsiders  help  'em. 

DICK.  I'm  not  exactly  an  outsider;  and  the 
truth  is,  Coast,  I'd  give  anything  to  have  the  right 


HER   OWN   WAY  119 

to  help  Georgiana.     [A  silence.]     Look  here.     I'm 
going  to  ask  you  a  question,  straight  out ! 
COAST.   Fire  ahead ! 

[Looks  at  DICK  with  a  perfectly  blank  face. 
DICK.   Anything  between  you  and   Georgiana? 
COAST.   [After  a  short  pause.]    There  is  — 
DICK.   Mrs.  Carley  hinted  as  much. 
COAST.   [Unflinchingly.]     I'm  —  er  —  I'm  going 
to  marry  Georgiana. 
[/I  pause.    COAST  looks  DICK  in  the  eye,  then 

away. 

DICK.  Congratulate  you,  Coast!  [Shakes  his 
hand.]  She's  worth  even  more  than  you  can  give 
her! 

COAST.  That's  right! 

[COAST  goes  out  on  the  balcony  and  whistles 
"Congo."  DICK  walks  away  and  turns  his 
back.  DICK  goes  to  the  mantel  and  takes  up 


120  HER    OWN   WAY 

a  picture  of  GEORGIANA,  looks  at  it,  takes  it 
out  of  the  frame,  and  seeing  that  COAST  isn't 
observing,  puts  it  in  his  breast  pocket.    He 
turns  round  with  a  pathetic  sort  of  half-laugh 
ing  exclamation  to  COAST. 
DICK.  I  say,  Coast.     [COAST  comes  in  from  the 
balcony.]  I've  been  in  love  with  Georgiana  for  years. 
COAST.  That  don't  surprise  me ! 

[COAST  sits  on  the  piano  bench. 
DICK.   I  never  realized  it  until  the  other  day, 
when  I  found  I  was  going  to  leave  her,  and  —  per 
haps —  not  coming  back,  and  then  I  found  boy 
friendship  had  sort  of  grown  up  into  a  man's  love 
- 1  almost  told  her  -      [Pause.]    I  wonder  if  I'd 
found  it  out  sooner  —  before  you  came  along — 
COAST.   No  use  shutting  the  stable  door  after 
the  horse  is  swiped ! 
DICK.   I  shan't  be  able  to  say  exactly  what  I 


HER    OWN   WAY  121 

wanted  to  to  Georgiana  —  but  that's  —  your  luck 
—  I  guess  the  quicker  I  can  say  good-by  and  get 
out,  the  better  for  me  — 

COAST.  Listen  — don't  say  anything  to  Geor 
giana  about  her  and  me,  will  you,  unless  of  course 
she  tells  you  —  we're  not  talking  about  it  yet. 

DICK.   I  don't  care  mentioning  it,  thank  you. 

[MRS.  CARLEY  and  GEORGIANA  come  in  Right 
and  meet  DICK. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  We're  so  sorry  to  say  good-by, 
Dick  —  will  you  have  some  tea  ? 

DICK.   No,  thanks. 

COAST.   Hello,  Auntie. 

[MRS.  CARLEY  goes  to  the  sofa  and  sits  with  her 
crocheting. 

GEORGIANA.   Dick! 

[Shaking  his  hand  —  a  second  long.  They  look 
into  each  other's  eyes. 


122  HER    OWN   WAY 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Isn't  he  fine  in  his  uniform? 

DICK.  [Embarrassed.]  I  hadn't  time  to  change 
before  we  start. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Louise  asks  me  to  give  her 
farewells;  she's  got  a  bad  headache  and  is  being 
shampooed  —  she's  loo  disappointed  not  to  see 
you. 

DICK.   I'm  sorry  she's  in  her  usual  health. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Got  it  from  her  father;  we 
didn't  expect  him  to  live  a  year  when  I  married 
him,  but  he  surprised  us  all  —  and  I  tell  Louise 
she'll  outlive  me  yet.  How  are  you,  Sammy? 

[Drops  her  worsted;  COAST  picks  it  up  and  gives 
it  to  her. 

COAST.   All  right,  only  I  need  a  shave. 

[He  sits  Left. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Well,  you  shouldn't  talk  about 
it  1  You  need  a  lot  of  coaching. 


HER    OWN   WAY  123 

GEORGIANA.  [Aside  to  DICK.]  Stay;  I  want  to 
speak  to  you  alone. 

DICK.   All  right,  old  girl,  I  think  I  know  why. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Why  don't  you  all  sit  down? 

GEORGIANA.   He  hasn't  much  time. 

DICK.  I  haven't  long  to  stay.  I  must  be  at 
the  armory  by  a  quarter  to  four. 

GEORGIANA.  You  march  by  here  at  four,  don't 
you,  on  your  way  to  the  42d  St.  Station? 

DICK.  Yes,  rather  a  bore;  but  the  Governor 
insists,  and  Roosevelt  comes  on  to  receive  us  at 
59th  St. 

GEORGIANA.  We  oughtn't  to  keep  Dick,  then, 
mother;  we  ought  to  say  good-by  at  once. 

[They  all  rise. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Very  well,  speed  the  parting 
guest!  Good-by,  Dick,  we'll  watch  the  papers 
to  see  what  brave  things  you  do,  and  don't  fall  in 


124  HER    OWN   WAY 

love  with  any  of  the  decollete  young  nigger  ladies 
we  read  about. 

DICK.  Good-by,  Mrs.  Carley.  [They  wail  for 
GEORGIANA  to  say  good-by.  A  pause.]  Good- 
by,  Coast! 

[Crosses  to  COAST,  who  rises  and  shakes  hands 

with  DICK. 

COAST.    Good-by !     Good  luck  — 
GEORGIANA.   [Pointedly.]    Good-by,  Sam. 
COAST.    Oh,  I'm  not  going. 

[A  pause. 

DICK.   [To  GEORGIANA.]     Good-by. 
GEORGIANA.    Good-by !     [Shakes  his  hand  and 
adds  under  her  breath  to  him.]   Don't  go.    Don't  go. 

[A  pause;  all  wait. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  He  isn't  in  a  hurry,  after  all, 
Georgiana;  let's  all  sit  down  again. 

[They  all  sit. 


HER    OWN    WAY  125 

GEORGIANA.  [Laughing,  embarrassed.]  Of 
course  I  don't  want  to  urge  you  off,  Dick. 

DICK.  [Rising.]  No,  but  really,  after  all,  I 
think  I  must  go. 

[All  rise  again. 

GEORGIANA.  No !  Mother,  I  want  to  speak 
with  Dick  alone,  before  he  goes;  you  won't  mind 
leaving  us,  will  you,  you  and  Sam? 

[Sam  rises. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Unwilling.]  Oh,  no —  Come 
along,  Sam.  We'll  be  on  the  balcony  when  you 
pass,  Dick;  be  sure  to  look  up.  Good-by. 

[Going. 

DICK.   [Shaking  her  hand.]    I'll  look  up. 
COAST.   [At  the  door  Right.]   I'll  go  up  and  see 
the  kids. 

[COAST  looks  at  Dick  and  goes  out  very  slowly 
with  MRS.  CARLEY. 


126  HER   OWN   WAY 

GEORGIANA.  I  couldn't  say  good-by  to  you  like 
that  —  I  couldn't  share  my  good-by  with  mother; 
you  understand  that,  don't  you,  Dick. 

DICK.  Yes,  old  girl,  though  if  I  had  my  way  I 
wouldn't  say  good-by  to  you  at  all  —  I  hate  good- 
bys  to  people  I  care  about. 

GEORGIANA.   Sit  down  just  a  few  minutes. 

[They  sit  down  by  the  table. 

DICK.  [Sees  the  tie  in  her  hands.]  Busy  making 
reins  for  Toots?  What  an  ugly  color! 

GEORGIANA.  Is  it  ?    Well,  it's  a  tie  for  you ! 

DICK.  Oh  —  I  mean  it's  ugly  for  reins,  but  per 
fectly  lovely  for  a  tie  —  I'll  take  it  with  me. 

[Puts  it  in  his  pocket. 

GEORGIANA.  I  wish  I  could  go  with  you. 

DICK.  Don't  you  think  you're  needed  here  just 
at  this  moment? 

GEORGIANA.  Has  Steve  told  you? 


HER    OWN   WAY  127 

DICK.   No,  Coast  did. 

GEORGIANA.   Don't  you  think  I'm  doing  right? 

DICK.  If  you  love  him,  of  course,  old  girl,  you're 
doing  right.  I  think  I  must  go  now.  [Rises.] 
Good-by. 

GEORGIANA.   No,  don't  go  yet,  please.     I  can't 

bear  to  have  you  go. 

DICK.  It's  good  of  you  to  care  so  much.  [Leans 
against  the  table.]  You  know  only  yesterday  I 
woke  up  and  suddenly  began  to  hope  — 

GEORGIANA.  What  — 

DICK.  Nothing;  I  don't  hope  it  any  more,  any 
way!  I  say,  Georgiana,  you'll  go  around  and  see 
mother  and  father  once  in  a  while,  won't  you? 

GEORGIANA.   Of  course  I  will  — 

DICK.  It'll  cheer  them  up  a  lot,  you  know  —  they 
feel  so  badly;  it's  pretty  tough  on  them,  my  leaving. 

GEORGIANA.  /  feel  badly  too  — 


128  HER   OWN   WAY 

DICK.   That's  jolly  good  of  you. 

GEORGIANA.  And  isn't  it  just  a  little  tough  to 
leave  me?  Your  oldest  friend  almost,  you  know. 

[She  adds  this  latter  to  cover  up  the  sentiment 
which  was  coming  too  near  the  surface. 

DICK.   Of  course  it  is. 

GEORGIANA.   You  haven't  said  so. 

DICK.  Still  waters  run  deep,  Georgy,  and  I  — 
[He  moves  away.]  really,  I  must  be  going. 

GEORGIANA.   [Rising.]    No,  don't  go. 

DICK.    [Looking  at  his  watch.]     I  must. 

GEORGIANA.  No,  let  me  see  your  watch.  Yes, 
you  have  got  three  more  minutes.  Please  —  sit 
down  — 

[She  persuades  him  to  sit  down  again,  and  she 
reseats  herselj. 

DICK.   Have  your  own  way! 

GEORGIANA.   Will  there  be  fighting? 


HER   OWN   WAY  129 

DICK.   I  hope  so! 

GEORGIANA.  Oh,  but  what  fighting !  I've  read, 
I  know  —  ambushes  and  tortures  —  their  war  is 
murder. 

DICK.  Yes,  and  that's  why  we're  going  out  there 
to  put  an  end  to  it. 

GEORGIANA.  Why  need  you? 

DICK.  Some  one  must,  I  as  well  as  another;  in 
fact,  just  now,  I  better  than  any  other. 

GEORGIANA.  Why  you  better  ? 

DICK.  Because  I  want  to  go  —  I've  got  a  rest 
less  fit,  Georgiana  —  and  want  to  get  away  from 
here  —  I  want  to  get  away  from  everybody. 

GEORGIANA.   From  me? 

DICK.   Yes,  even  from  you  I 

GEORGIANA.   [Hurt.]    Thank  you. 

DICK.  I  should  think  your  woman's  instinct 
would  teach  you  why. 

K 


I3o  HER    OWN   WAY 

GEORGIANA.  Well,  it  doesn't!  and  I  really 
should  be  very  much  obliged  to  you  if  you  would 
help  my  woman's  instinct  out. 

DICK.  Of  course  it's  all  right  what  you're  going 
to  do,  only  —  well,  I  don't  want  to  be  here  to  see  it. 

GEORGIANA.  But,  Dick,  I'm  perfectly  happy  in 
what  I'm  doing. 

DICK.  Of  course !  but  that  doesn't  make  it  any 
the  pleasanter  for  me.  [Rises.]  Good-by. 

GEORGIANA.  [Rising.]  And  that's  all,  just 
good-by  ? 

DICK.  No,  I  wish  you  all  kinds  of  happiness  in 
the  future  and  the  happiest  marriage  in  the  world. 

GEORGIANA.   Oh,  thank  you  very  much. 

DICK.  [With  great  effort.]  I  wish  you  every 
thing  that's  good,  Georgy,  old  girl ! 

GEORGIANA.  Well,  I'm  sure  no  one  could  ask 
for  more;  and  what  shall  I  wish  you? 


HER    OWN   WAY  131 

DICK.  Wish  me  a  big  fight,  and  an  exciting  one ! 
Wish  me  a  chance  to  do  something !  Wish  me 
—  oh,  what  does  it  matter  —  wish  me —  "  Good- 
by." 

GEORGIANA.  What  does  it  matter?  Good-by! 
No! 

[They  shake  hands;  she  follows  him  to  the  door. 

DICK.   I  must.    I'll  be  late. 

GEORGIANA.  Be  late. 

DICK.  [Looking  at  her  a  moment.]  I  am  —  too 
late.  Good-by. 

[He  is  going  out  again  and  she  stops  him. 
Good-by.  [Light-heartedly. 

[He  goes  out.    She  stands  where  he  leaves  her, 
facing  the  door.    A  pause. 

GEORGIANA.  "What  does  it  matter "  — " wish 
me  good-by." 

[She  turns,  looking  straight  ahead  of  her,  gazing 


I32  HER    OWN   WAV 

into  space,  realizing  what  it  means  to  her. 
Slowly  the  emotion  creeps  into  her  face,  she 
falters  where  she  stands,  and  turns  about  to 
burst  into  tears,  when  COAST  comes  back  into 
the  room. 

COAST.   I  heard  Coleman  go  —  can  I  talk  with 
you  a  little  ? 

GEORGIANA.   [Sitting  on  the  sofa.]     No,  Sam, 
I  don't  feel  like  it! 

[She  cannot  keep  her  tears  back. 
COAST.   [Going  to  her.]    Georgy,  don't  — don't 
—  I  love  you. 

GEORGIANA.  No !    I  don't  want  you  to. 
COAST.   It   don't   make    any  difference   if  you 
want  me  to  or  not;  I  do,  got  to,  it's  so  strong  in 
me  —  won't  you  have  me? 

GEORGIANA.  No !  Won't  you  leave  me  alone  a 
little? 


HER    OWN   WAY  133 

COAST.  No,  I  can't.  Listen;  I  know  I'm  not 
refined  enough  for  you  —  but  I  can  get  over  that 
in  time.  Sure!  I  can  get  over  everything  for 
you,  if  you'll  only  love  me. 

GEORGIANA.   No  !  now  go  away  from  me. 

[He  kneels  beside  her  a  little  awkwardly,  trying 
to  make  her  look  at  him. 

COAST.  There  isn't  a  thing  in  this  world  that 
money  can  buy  I  won't  give  you. 

GEORGIANA.  There  are  some  things  money 
can't  buy. 

COAST.  No,  there  ain't  —  not  my  money! 
You'll  have  everything  a  woman  can  hanker  after 
in  this  world  —  the  best  there  is,  and  Steve  shall 
have  it,  too,  for  your  sake. 

GEORGIANA.   I  can  never  love  you. 

COAST.  Listen!  I'll  make  my  wife  the  biggest 
woman  in  the  city  —  I'll  make  her  — 


134  HER   OWN   WAY 

GEORGIANA.  {Interrupting.}  Sam,  stop!  [He 
rises.]  I  can't  hear  any  more ! 

[-4  pause  —  she  sobs;   he  waits. 

COAST.  I  won't  stop,  not  till  you  say  you'll 
marry  me !  If  I  let  up  to-day,  I'll  begin  again  to 
morrow,  and  when  I  stop  to-morrow  it'll  be  to  go 
ahead  the  day  after !  I've  never  failed  yet  in  get 
ting  anything  I've  set  after,  and  this  is  the  biggest 
thing  I've  ever  made  up  my  mind  to. 

GEORGIANA.  And  this  time  you  will  lose.  Be 
cause  I  can  never  love  you.  [He  tries  to  in 
terrupt.]  No,  let  me  finish.  I'll  tell  you  why 
I  can't  love  you.  I'll  tell  you,  only  just  you, 
Sam,  remember  that.  I  could  never  love  you 
because  I  love  now,  with  every  bit  of  love  there 
is  in  me,  the  man  who  has  just  left  this  house, 
who  has  gone  to  fight  and  perhaps  will  never 
come  back. 


HER    OWN   WAY  135 

COAST.   Has  he  asked  you  to  be  his  wife  ? 

GEORGIANA.   I  love  him  all  the  same ! 

COAST.  And  I  love  you  the  same  way  you  love 
him  —  ain't  you  a  little  sorry  for  me? 

GEORGIANA.  Yes  — 

COAST.   That'll  do  to  go  on  with  — 

GEORGIANA.  [Laughs  hysterically.]  Oh  —  Sam, 
can't  I  make  you  understand  ? 

COAST.  No,  nor  make  me  give  up.  I'm  coming 
to  see  you  again  to-morrow;  when  will  you  be 
in? 

GEORGIANA.  Not  at  all. 

[She  moves  about  the  room. 

COAST.  What  time  in  the  afternoon? 

GEORGIANA.   I  shall  be  out  all  afternoon. 

COAST.   I'll  call  at  five. 

GEORGIANA.  Very  well!  You'll  find  Louise 
and  mother. 


136  HER    OWN   WAY 

COAST.   Coleman  thinks  you'll  have  me! 

GEORGIANA.   He  couldn't!    Why  should  he? 

COAST.  He  congratulated  me,  when  he  was 
here  just  now! 

GEORGIANA.  For  what? 

COAST.   For  you ! 

GEORGIANA.  Oh!  [Laughing  hysterically.] 
That's  what  he  meant  by  his  happy  marriage  — 

[Laughing  and  crying. 

COAST.  If  he  mentioned  marriage,  that's  what 
he  meant. 

GEORGIANA.  But  didn't  you  tell  him  he  was 
wrong  ? 

COAST.  No. 

GEORGIANA.   But  why  not? 

COAST.   I  wanted  him  to  think  it! 

GEORGIANA.  But  it  was  wrong  of  you  —  it  can 
never  be  true,  and  I  don't  want  him  to  go  away 


HER   OWN   WAY  137 

believing  it.  [Music  of  a  military  band  is  heard 
in  the  distance.]  Here  they  come !  [Going  to  the 
balcony,  he  follows.]  No,  please  don't  come  out 
with  me!  Sam  — I  don't  want  him  to  see  me 
standing  there  with  you.  [SAM  starts  towards 
GEORGIANA.]  Let  me  go  out  on  the  balcony 
alone,  Sam!  Please,  alone! 

[He  looks  at  her  a  moment  and  then  deliberately 
goes  past  her  out  on  to  the  balcony. 

MRS.  CARLE Y.  [Hurrying  in  from  the  Right.] 
They're  coming!  I've  told  the  children. 

[She  goes  out  on  balcony.     The  children  run  in. 

ALL  THE  CHILDREN.  The  soldiers  are  coming! 
Auntie,  the  soldiers  are  coming ! 

[They  rush  out  on  the  balcony. 

COAST.  [In  the  window,  picking  up  PHIL  in 
his  arms.]  Come  on,  Georgy.  What  does  it 
matter  ? 


138  HER   OWN   WAY 

GEORGIANA.   That's  true,  go  on !    What  does 
it  matter,  it's  good-by ! 

[COAST  goes  on  the  balcony.  MRS.  CARLE Y,  on 
balcony,  calls,  "Here  comes  DICK  ! "  GEORGIANA 
hesitates  and  then  goes  close  to  the  window. 
She  stands  in  a  chair  so  as  to  see  over  the 
others'  heads,  hidden  behind  the  curtain 
of  the  half-open  window,  and  watches.  The 
music  is  louder  as  they  pass  under  the  balcony; 
a  flag  is  seen  almost  on  level  with  the  balcony 
floor.  Those  on  the  balcony  wave  and  shout, 
and  shouts  are  heard  in  the  street.  GEOR 
GIANA  stands  still,  wiping  the  tears  from  her 
eyes  every  moment  with  a  tiny  wad  of  a  hand 
kerchief,  and  as  the  music  passes,  growing 
less  loud, 

THE   CURTAIN   FALLS 


ACT  III 

Eight  months  later.  GEORGIANA'S  room,  an  octag 
onal  room  with  dark  panel  walnut  woodwork 
and  panels  of  yellow  brocade,  with  furniture  to 
match.  All  in  the  simplest  style  of  Louis  XV. 
There  is  a  fireplace  on  the  Left,  and  doors  Right 
and  Left.  Two  windows  at  the  back.  At 
right  of  the  Centre  is  a  very  large  dressing  table 
covered  with  massive  silver  toilet  articles,  a  big 
mirror,  candelabra,  etc.,  and  a  silver-framed 
photograph  of  DICK  COLEMAN.  There  is  a 
low  bench  before  the  table,  tables  and  chairs  about 
the  room,  and  a  most  comfortable,  roomy  sofa, 
on  the  Left,  piled  with  embroidered  pillows. 
It  is  after  seven  and  the  lamps  are  lit.  STEVEN 
139 


140  HER   OWN   WAY 

enters  from  Left  and  sits  on  the  sofa.  He  is 
haggard)  his  clothes  mussed,  his  linen  rumpled 
and  soiled.  He  is  painfully  nervous  and  agi 
tated;  he  cannot  keep  still;  as  soon  as  he  sits 
down  he  gets  up;  he  goes  from  one  place  in  the 
room  to  another,  taking  up  a  picture  without  look 
ing  at  it,  sitting  down  and  getting  up  again. 
Twice  he  half  whispers,  half  groans,  "Good 
God!"  He  takes  out  a  pistol  from  his  pocket, 
looks  at  it,  and  puts  it  away  again  as  LIZZIE 
enters  Right. 

LIZZIE.  Miss  Carley  says  she'll  be  in  as  soon 
as  she  can. 

STEVEN.  [Rising  and  going  to  the  dressing 
table.]  Is  she  dressing  for  the  ball  now? 

LIZZIE.  No,  sir,  she's  wearing  a  tea  gown  for 
dinner;  it'll  be  a  grand  sight,  the  ball,  sir! 


HER   OWN   WAY  141 

STEVEN.  I  suppose  so. 

LIZZIE.  Pity  we  couldn't  'ave  got  the  Grand 
Duke  here,  sir,  to  dinner. 

STEVEN.  [Moving  about.]  We  couldn't  afford 
to  entertain  a  Russian  prince,  Lizzie,  —  don't 
tell  your  mistress,  —  but  I've  been  speculating 
again  and  we're  hard  up. 

LIZZIE.  Oh,  I  am  so  sorry,  sir  —  I  know  how 
to  sympathize  with  you,  though  we  did  get  our 
money  back!  Perhaps  you'll  get  yours. 

STEVEN.  How  about  you  and  Moles? 

[Comes  to  LIZZIE. 

LIZZIE.  Well,  sir,  last  Tuesday  we  counted  up, 
we're  about  two  years  off,  or  fourteen  hundred 
dollars  distance,  so  to  speak.  We've  calculated 
then  we  could  marry  and  settle  down  if  we'd  be 
satisfied  with  two  rooms  and  no  children. 

[There  is  a  knock  on  door  Left. 


14*  HER    OWN   WAY 

Yes?  [Going  to  the  door,  opens  it.]  Oh, 
come  in,  sir.  [Moves  away.]  Mr.  Carley  is 
here. 

COAST.   [Entering.]    Where's   Miss  Georgiana? 
LIZZIE.   She's  dressing,  sir.     She'll  be  down  in 
five  or  ten  minutes. 

[Goes  out  Right. 
COAST.   How  are  you  ? 

[The  two  men  nod  a  surly  greeting. 
STEVEN.   I've  been  looking  for  you  all  afternoon ! 
COAST.   Didn't  you  know  I  was  coming   here 
and  going  with  your  folks  to  the  ball? 
STEVEN.   I  forgot ! 

[A}ter  a  pause,  both  men  look  at  each  other. 
Well,    Sam,   I'm    done !      I'm   done    for    good 
this  time! 

COAST.   Sorry,  but  you  can't  blame  me. 

[He  sits  in  an  arm-chair  near  the  sofa. 


HER   OWN   WAY  143 

STEVEN.  I  do.  You  told  me  you  were  going 
into  this  last  business,  but  you  did'nt  tell  me  you 
were  going  to  get  right  out  again. 

COAST.  'Twasn't  my  business  to  tell  you  that 
—  I  didn't  advise  you  to  go  in ! 

STEVEN.  No,  but  you  put  me  up  to  it  all  the 
same! 

COAST.  Not  a  bit!  The  only  time  I  advised 
you  was  some  months  ago,  when  you'd  just  lost 
Louise's  money,  —  then  I  put  you  on  to  some 
thing,  so  you  shouldn't  lose  Georgiana's.  Did 
you  win? 

STEVEN.   Yes,  and  broke  my  word  to  Georgiana. 

COAST.  Well,  that's  her  and  your  business,  but 
it  let  me  out!  From  that  time  on  you  were  on 
your  own  hook. 

STEVEN.  You  were  always  throwing  out  hints 
that  you  meant  me  to  take. 


144  HER    OWN   WAY 

COAST.  Listen.  [Rises  and  goes  to  STEVEN.] 
You  can't  prove  that! 

STEVEN.  You  know  you  led  me  into  it,  you 
know  you  did.  You  tempted  me  in  the  first  place 
to  break  my  word  of  honor  to  my  sister.  Whether 
you  meant  to  or  not,  you  did  it,  damn  you  — 
and  you're  a  rich  man,  you've  got  millions,  and 
can  help  me  out!  Will  you? 

COAST.   [Quietly.]    No. 

[Moves  a  little  away  toward  the  Left. 

STEVE.  You're  my  wife's  own  cousin,  and  she's 
a  pauper  and  through  no  fault  of  her  own.  Will 
you  help  me  for  her  sake? 

COAST.   [Still  quietly.]    No. 

STEVEN.  You're  in  love  with  my  sister, 
and  she's  not  got  a  cent  of  her  own  to-night 
through  me.  Will  you  help  me  for  her 
sake? 


HER    OWN   WAY  145 

COAST.   [Still  quietly.]    No ! 

STEVEN.   [Going  to  him.]    No? 

COAST.  No! 

[Strong. 

STEVEN.  Then  damn  you  for   a    dirty  black 
guard  ! 

COAST.   [Laughs.]   That's  pretty  talk;  I  guess 
you  got  that  from  me  too! 

STEVEN.   [Doggedly.]  I'll  do  more  than  talk! 
[Turns  away  and  goes  up  stage. 

COAST.  What? 

STEVEN.   Wait  and  see. 

COAST.  Listen !  if  one  thing  happens,  I'll  help 
you. 

STEVEN.   [Turning.]    You  mean  Georgiana ! 

COAST.   Yes,  if  she'll  marry  me,  I'll  make  up 
to  you  every  damn  cent  of  hers  you've  got  rid  of. 

STEVEN.  And  if  she  won't? 

L 


146  HER   OWN   WAY 

COAST.  I'll  make  up  every  penny  of  Louise's 
you've  lost,  if  Georgiana'll  marry  me.  Listen  — 
[SAM  puts  his  arm  around  STEVEN  and  brings  him 
down  to  the  sofa  and  they  sit.]  she  loves  you,  you're 
the  kind  that  always  has  influence  with  women; 
use  yours  for  me,  Steve,  it'll  be  worth  your  while. 

STEVEN.  [Half  laughs.]  You  want  me  to  try 
and  persuade  her  to  marry  you  against  her  own 
desire  even  ? 

COAST.   That's  the  figure. 

STEVEN.  When  I  know  you're,  in  your  way, 
just  as  dishonorable  a  man  as  I  am,  and  hard  and 
heartless,  [STEVE  rises.]  I  wouldn't  risk  my 
sister's  happiness  with  you,  if  it  would  save  me 
twice  over.  Even  if  she  loved  you,  I'd  say  what 
I  could  against  it. 

COAST.  [Quick.]  She'll  never  know  you  broke 
your  word  to  her  if  I  help  you. 


HER    OWN   WAY  147 

STEVEN.  Yes,  she  will,  because  I  mean  to  tell 
her  to-night. 

COAST.  All  right! 

STEVEN.  That's  what  I've  come  for,  to  make 
a  clean  breast  of  everything. 

COAST.  You're  a  damned  fool !  [He  rises  and 
moves  away.]  However,  each  way  plays  more  or 
less  into  my  hands. 

GEORGIANA.  [Outside  of  door  Right.]  If  you 
are  telling  secrets,  look  out  —  I'm  coming ! 

COAST.   Come  on ! 

[GEORGIANA  comes  in,  dressed  in  graceful  neg 
ligee  tea  gown. 

GEORGIANA.  Good  evening,  Sam !  Steve,  you're 
not  dressed  yet? 

STEVEN.   I  forgot  about  the  ball. 

GEORGIANA.  I  can  tell  you  one  person  who 
hasn't,  and  that's  mother ! 


148  HER   OWN   WAY 

COAST.    [Laughing.]    Is  she  going  to  be  corking  ? 

GEORGIANA.  [Sitting  in  the  arm-chair  by  the  sofa.] 
If  the  Grand  Duke  were  a  bachelor  and  mother  had 
designs  upon  him,  she  couldn't  possibly  take  more 
pains !  She's  going  to  be  beyond  all  words.  She's 
got  every  jewel  she  owns  and  can  borrow  draped 
about  her,  till  she  looks  like  Tiffany's  exhibit  at 
the  St.  Louis  Fair.  And  as  for  her  hair,  she's 
had  Bella  Shindle  working  on  it  all  afternoon,  till 
it's  the  Titianest  Titian  that  ever  flamed  on  human 
head ! 

COAST.   Sounds  great ! 
[Sitting  on  the  bench.    STEVEN  sits  on  the  sofa. 

GEORGIANA.  Wait!  She's  built  her  tiara  up 
with  a  breastpin  and  an  aigrette  off  my  winter 
hat,  and  it  was  all  I  could  do  to  keep  her  from 
wearing  the  three  feathers  in  which  she  was 
presented  to  the  Queen  in  A.D.  '73. 


HER    OWN   WAY  149 

[They  all  laugh  good-naturedly. 

COAST.   Aunt  Laura's  a  corker ! 

GEORGIANA.  Well,  no  one  will  miss  her !  She'll 
get  the  Grand  Duke's  eye  if  no  one  else  does ! 
I  tell  her  she'll  go  through  the  ballroom  like  a 
search-light ! 

COAST.   Is  she  all  dressed  now  ? 

GEORGIANA.  Not  yet.  I'm  judging  by  her 
dress  rehearsal!  I  left  her  in  a  state  of  terrible 
indecision  as  to  whether  she  should  arch  her 
eyebrows  "just  a  little"  with  a  burnt  match! 

[All  laugh  again  good-naturedly. 

COAST.   Smart  old  girl! 

GEORGIANA.  She's  all  the  happier  for  being 
silly,  and  she's  a  good  soul  and  does  her  best! 
What's  your  news,  Steve? 

[Turning  to  STEVEN. 

STEVEN.   Sam,  would  you  mind? 


150  HER   OWN  WAY 

[Motions  to  COAST  to  leave  the  room. 
COAST.   Oh,  no !     [Rises.]     See  you  later !    I'll 
go  and  take  a  squint  at  auntie. 

[He  goes  out  Right. 

GEORGIANA.   Steve,  you  look  troubled  —  what's 
gone  wrong? 

[She  goes  to  STEVEN  on  the  sofa  and  sits  beside 

him. 

STEVEN.  /  have! 

GEORGIANA.  How   do   you   mean?    You   and 
Louise  haven't  quarrelled? 
STEVEN.  If  it  was  only  thatj 
GEORGIANA.   What  then? 
STEVEN.   I've  gone  wrong,  I  tell  you,  all  wrong. 
GEORGIANA.  How?    In  what  way,  Steve? 
STEVEN.   Your  money's  lost,  it's  all  lost. 

[GEORGIANA  rises.     A  pause. 
GEORGIANA.   How  do  you  mean? 


HER    OWN   WAY  151 

STEVEN.  And  that  isn't  the  worst  of  it,  either. 
I've  broken  my  word  to  you !  I  know  I've  killed 
your  faith  in  me.  I've  lost  faith  in  myself. 

GEORGIANA.   [Still  standing,  very  strong.]   Steve ! 

STEVEN.   I've  speculated ! 

GEORGIANA.  No,  Steve! 

STEVEN.  [Rises  and  goes  to  the  mantel.]  Yes, 
I've  been  speculating  since  the  very  day  I  said  I 
wouldn't.  I  won  a  lot  at  first,  and  of  course  I 
thought  I'd  get  all  back;  and  then,  of  course,  what 
I  did  get  back  was  my  old  cursed  luck ! 

GEORGIANA.  Oh,  Steve !  And  I  believed  in  you 
so  thoroughly,  I  never  had  a  doubt ! 

STEVEN.  I  know  it!  I  know  it!  I'm  rotten  all 
through,  Georgy.  [Bursting  into  tears.]  I'm  not 
worth  being  forgiven  —  [He  falls  on  his  knees, 
in  a  paroxysm  of  sobs  and  tears.]  I'm  rotten!  Oh 
—  I'm  rotten  — 


152  HER    OWN   WAY 

[He  sobs  uncontrollably. 

[  GEORGIANA  watches  him  a  little  while  in  silence. 
Then  she  goes  to  him  and  puts  her  hand  on 
his  shoulder. 
GEORGIANA.  Steve! 
STEVEN.   [Sobbing.]    Yes ! 
GEORGIANA.  I  forgive  you ! 
STEVEN.   No  !  No  ! 

GEORGIANA.  And  I'll  trust  you  again  if  I  have 
a  chance. 

STEVEN.   [Looking  up.]   Georgy,  what  do  you 
mean? 

[Beginning  to  control  his   sobs. 
GEORGIANA.  I  mean,  though  it's  been  a  pretty 
big  blow,  my  faith  in   you  isn't  altogether  gone 
yet. 

STEVEN.   Oh,  I  can't  bear  it!     I  can't  bear  it! 
But  you  don't  mean  it!    No,  you  can't  mean  it! 


HER   OWN   WAY  153 

How  could  you  ?  Forgive  me  ?  Trust  me  again  ? 
No,  no !  You  couldn't  —  it's  all  over !  I've 
thrown  away  my  own  money  first,  then  my  wife's 
and  her  mother's  —  that  ought  to  have  been 
enough,  —  but  I  had  to  go  and  break  my  word  of 
honor  to  you,  and  lose  every  penny  of  yours ! 
There's  no  excuse  for  me,  nor  reason  to  forgive. 

GEORGIANA.  [After  a  moment,  very  quietly,  with 
her  eyes  filling.}  There's  love,  Steve  ! 

STEVEN.  Not  for  a  man  like  me.  I'm  not  worth 
it.  [He  rises.]  Not  deserving  it!  There's  only 
one  thing  for  such  as  me,  and  that  is  to  end  it  all 
with  a  bullet. 

GEORGIANA.  Now  you're  talking  wildly ! 

STEVEN.  [In  a  lowered  voice.]  No,  Georgy, 
I  mean  it !  It's  better  for  all  of  you  to  have  me 
out  of  the  way;  I  tried  to  do  it  to-day — only, 
/  was  afraid! 


154  HER   OWN   WAY 

GEORGIANA.  That  would  be  worse  than  any 
thing  you  have  done  yet.  That  I  would  never 
forgive  —  anything  but  that ! 

[She  goes  to  him. 

STEVEN.  But  the  shame  of  my  life  now,  the 
degradation,  the  rot  of  it! 

,  [A  moment's  pause. 

GEORGIANA.  [The  idea  comes  to  her.]  Steve,  I 
told  you  I'd  trust  you  again  if  I  had  the  chance ! 
Here  is  the  first  one,  and  I  take  it!  Promise 
me  you'll  never  again  even  think  of  taking  your 
life. 

STEVEN.   What's  the  good  of  my  promising? 
GEORGIANA.   If  you  tell  me,  I'll  believe  you. 

[A  short  pause. 

[STEVEN,  not  looking  at  her,  puts  his  hand  in  the 
pocket  where  the  pistol  is,  then  takes  his  hand 
away,  still  not  looking  at  her. 


HER   OWN   WAY  155 

Look  me  straight  in  the  face,  Steve,  and 
say,  "I  promise." 

[He  hesitates  only  a  moment,  and  then  does  so. 
STEVEN.   I  promise. 
[He  turns    a    little   away  from    her,   takes    the 

pistol  from  his  pocket,  and  gives  it  to  her. 
GEORGIANA.   [Bursting  into  tears.]     Oh,  Steve! 
[She  turns  away  and  puts  the  pistol  on  the  table 

between  the  windows. 

STEVEN.  Forgive  me,  Georgy,  forgive  me! 
This  promise  I'll  keep.  Only  forgive  me  for 
breaking  your  heart  like  this ! 

COAST.  [Entering  Right.]  I've  been  sent  up  to 
bring  you  down  to  dinner. 

[He  takes  in  the  situation.     A  pause. 
GEORGIANA.   Do  you  know  what  Steve  has  just 
told  me? 

STEVEN.   [Bitterly.]    Yes,  he  knows. 


156  HER   OWN   WAY 

COAST.   Just  what? 

GEORGIANA.  Steve  has  gone  on  speculating, 
and  my  money's  followed  the  rest. 

COAST.   Yes,  I  knew  that. 

GEORGIANA.   Couldn't  you  have  saved  him? 

COAST.   I  offered  to  once,  but  you  refused. 

GEORGIANA.  And  now? 

[Short  pause. 

COAST.  [He  goes  to  GEORGIANA,  who  is  on  the 
sofa.]  My  offer  is  still  open  to  the  same  tune. 

STEVEN.   No,  Georgy,  no  ! 

GEORGIANA.  For  Steve's  own  sake,  won't  you  do 
something  for  him  ?  Get  him  some  position  so  that 
he  can  take  care  of  Louise.  I'll  look  after  myself. 

COAST.   I'll  do  all  and  more,  if  you'll  marry  me. 

GEORGIANA.   You  know  I  can't  marry  you. 

COAST.   What  does  Steve  say  ? 

STEVEN.   What  Georgy  says,  I  say. 


HER   OWN   WAY  157 

COAST.  How  are  you  going  to  get  out  of  this 
without  me? 

STEVEN.   I  don't  know. 

COAST.  And  there's  something  else.  [Steps 
towards  STEVEN.]  Perhaps  you  don't  know  that 
unless  some  one  does  get  you  out  of  this,  it  won't 
be  only  a  money  smash-up  for  Georgiana,  but  dis 
grace  too ! 

GEORGIANA.  That  can't  be  true!  I  shall  say 
my  brother  had  control  of  my  money  to  do  what 
he  liked  with  it. 

COAST.  But  any  lawyer  would  take  up  the  case 
of  criminal  mismanagement  for  my  aunt  and 
cousin's  affairs. 

GEORGIANA.   But  they  wouldn't  allow  it. 

COAST.   Well,  what  do  you  think? 

STEVEN.   Louise  —  never ! 

COAST.   Leave  it  to  me  I 


158  HER   OWN   WAY 

STEVEN.  Ah!  your  true  colors!  You  heard 
him,  Georgy? 

COAST.  Well,  let  that  pass.  But  you  know 
that  you've  overdrawn  at  your  bank,  that  you've 
overdrawn  at  your  brokers,  and  that  you  can  no 
more  get  out  of  the  muddle  you've  got  yourself 
into  without  one  of  the  biggest  public  scandals 
there's  been  in  the  street  for  years ! 

GEORGIANA.   But  you  can  spare  us  that? 

STEVEN.   [Very  low.]    Good  God ! 

[He  moves  away. 

COAST.   [To  GEORGIANA.]    That's  what  I  can. 

GEORGIANA.   And  you  love  me  ? 

COAST.   I  certainly  do  ! 

GEORGIANA.  Then  you  will  spare  us ! 

COAST.   If  you'll  marry  me. 

STEVEN.  No !  [Comes  down  to  her.]  Georgy, 
you  mustn't!  [COAST  walks  away.]  Don't  you 


HER   OWN  WAY  159 

see  what  a  selfish  brute  Sam  is?  Of  course  it 
was  my  fault  that  I  gambled,  but  he  tempted  me, 
he  led  me  into  it  when  he  knew  I  couldn't  resist. 
The  very  day  and  hour  I  gave  you  my  promise, 
he  gave  me  a  tip  and  guaranteed  I  shouldn't  lose ! 

GEORGIANA.   Sam  !  Oh ! 

[She  turns  to  the  bench  before  her  dressing  table 
and  sinks  upon  it. 

COAST.  [Speaks  to  her  across  the  table.]  It's 
true !  And  I  led  him  to  speculate  more,  I  tricked 
him  first  with  winning  and  then  let  him  go !  I 
knew  he'd  soon  do  for  himself  alone,  and  he  did ! 
Yes  —  I  ruined  him  purposely  and  you  through 
him,  so  as  to  get  you  to  be  my  wife.  I  did  it 
purposely  and  I'd  do  it  again !  Of  course  I  meant 
all  along  to  make  it  up  in  the  end  when  I'd  got  you. 

GEORGIANA.  And  did  you  really  think  you 
could  get  me  that  way? 


160  HER   OWN   WAY 

COAST.  Why,  you've  got  to  marry  me.  You 
needn't  be  afraid  of  what  I  won't  do  for  you.  I 
love  you,  you  know  that.  Everything  —  I've 
told  you  that  before.  You  shall  have  everything 
on  God's  earth  you  want,  and  Louise  and  her  mother 
shall  live  in  style  as  they  always  have,  and  Steve 
have  his  own  money  back,  with  a  brother-in-law 
to  help  him  take  care  of  it !  And  what's  the  other 
side  of  the  picture  ?  Nothing  for  you  or  Louise  or 
anybody  —  and  disgrace  for  Steve  into  the  bargain. 
Why,  you've  got  to  marry  me!  [GEORGIANA. 
rises,  COAST  follows  her.]  Don't  you  see?  Any 
way  [Smiling.]  it  was  only  a  trick  to  make  you, 
because,  Georgy,  I  love  you  so !  [A  pause;  she 
stands  looking  at  him.]  Well? 

GEORGIANA.  I'm  trying  to  realize  —  to  under 
stand  it  all. 

[MOLES  enters  Left. 


HER    OWN   WAY  161 

MOLES.  Please,  miss,  Mrs.  Carley  says  your 
soup  is  all  cold  and  they're  on  with  the  fish. 

GEORGIANA.  Tell  Mrs.  Carley  not  to  wait  for 
Mr.  Carley  and  me,  we're  not  coming  down;  but 
Mr.  Coast  will  join  them  in  a  moment. 

[COAST  looks  up  surprised. 
MOLES.  Yes,  miss. 

[He  goes  out.    A  moment's  pause. 
COAST.   What  do  you  mean  by  that? 

[Another  pause. 

GEORGIANA.   [Slowly.}    Not    to    save    myself, 
not  even  to  save  my  brother,  and  from  even  worse 
than  we  have  to  face,  would  I  marry  you. 
COAST.   Don't  say  that,  Georgy ! 
GEORGY.  Why,   every  word  you've  said,  and 
everything  you've  done  to  make    me    love   you, 
makes  me   instead  —  yes  —  and  for  what  you've 
done  with  Steve  [Looks  at  STEVE.],  /  do  hate  you. 


162  HER   OWN   WAY 

[Goes  to  the  sofa,  COAST  follows. 

COAST.  I  only  said  it  because  I  love  you, 
Georgiana. 

GEORGIANA.  Oh,  Sam  Coast,  you  don't  know 
what  love  is !  Love  doesn't  make  beasts  of  men, 
it  makes  men  of  beasts.  It  doesn't  take  all  for 
itself  — it  sacrifices  all  for  another.  Love  isn't 
an  enemy  that  lays  traps  and  makes  ambushes,  — 
love  is  a  friend  whose  heart  is  a  divine  magnet! 
Real  love  makes  an  angel  of  a  woman  and  a  hero  of 
a  man,  but  love  such  as  you  have  —  oh,  the  hap 
piness  in  this  world  that's  been  lost  through  it ! 

COAST.   You  don't  know  me ! 

GEORGIANA.  I  didn't,  but  I  do!  You've 
dragged  down  my  brother,  sacrificed  him  and  my 
belief  in  him,  almost,  for  your  own  selfish  end, 
tried  to  trap  me  into  marrying  you  when  you 
know  I  didn't  love  you. 


HER    OWN   WAY  163 

COAST.   But  you  would  — 

GEORGIANA.  Once  perhaps,  though  I  can't 
imagine  it !  But  not  now !  No  !  I'd  starve  and 
suffer  and  die  now  before  I  could  ever  love 
you. 

[A  pause;  COAST  goes  to  the  table  and  stands 
half  shamefaced  a  moment,  then  he  pulls  him 
self  up  and  turns. 

COAST.  Well,  face  the  music  for  a  while,  and 
then  see ! 

GEORGIANA.  They're  waiting  for  you  at  dinner; 
please  join  them  and  tell  them  what  you  like. 

COAST.  I'll  tell  them  nothing.  I'll  let  you  and 
Steve  think  things  over  a  little. 

STEVEN.  [Rises,  and  goes  to  meet  COAST.]  You 
will  have  something  to  settle  with  me  outside  of 
money  matters ! 

COAST.   [With  a  jeer.]    Please  yourself. 


164  HER    OWN   WAY 

[He  goes  out. 

GEORGIANA.  [To  STEVEN.]  I  believe  I  can  in 
fluence  Louise  to  do  nothing  for  the  sake  of  the 
children,  and  she  loves  you  in  her  way. 

STEVEN.   But  the  bank? 

[He  sits  on  sofa  beside  her. 

GEORGIANA.  Oh,  we  can  take  care  of  the  bank; 
after  all,  we've  friends,  we've  jewels,  we've  this 
house. 

STEVEN.   That's  true,  and  the  brokers? 

GEORGIANA.   Who  are  they? 

STEVEN.   Caldwell  and  Hovery. 

GEORGIANA.  Mr.  Caldwell  will  be  at  the  ball 
to-night  ? 

STEVEN.   Probably. 

GEORGIANA.  I'll  see  him.  We've  always  been 
good  friends,  —  and  so  were  his  father  and  your 
father.  He  won't  let  his  firm  make  a  scandal  if 


HER    OWN   WAY  165 

he  can  help  it,  especially  as  they  can  gain  nothing 
and  we  should  lose  so  much !  Steve,  we'll  get  out 
of  this  yet,  with  your  name  all  right ! 

BELLA.   [Entering  Right.]    May  I  come  in? 

GEORGAINA.  Yes,  Bella. 

BELLA.  Oh,  good  evening,  Mr.  Carley,  it's  a 
pleasant  evening ! 

STEVEN.   Good  evening,  Miss  Shindle. 

BELLA.  What  I  come  to  ask  is  if  I  shall  do  you 
now,  and  Mrs.  Wishings  around  the  corner  after 
wards  ? 

GEORGIANA.  I  think  I'd  rather  you  went  to 
Mrs.  Wishings  first  if  you  don't  mind. 

BELLA.  Oh,  it's  all  the  same  to  me !  Mrs.  Wish 
ings  ain't  really  in  the  smart  set  and  they  say 
her  husband  ain't  so  rich,  and  she's  horrid  to  her 
servants  —  don't  give  them  cake.  I  don't  care  if  I 
lost  her  head  to  do !  I'm  like  that,  as  you  know, 


166  HER   OWN   WAY 

particular  when  I'm  particular,  but  —  well  — 
just  supercilious  and  negligee  when  it  don't  count ! 
Good  gracious !  [Laughing.]  Oh,  here's  a  letter 
for  you  I  brought  up  for  Lizzie.  It's  from  the 
Phillypeenys  and  has  a  special  delivery  on.  [GEOR- 
GIANA  takes  letter  and  opens  it  and  reads  it.]  That's 
how  it  come  at  this  hour.  Some  folks  do  have 
luck,  as  the  saying  is !  I've  got  to  wait  till  to 
morrow  morning  for  mine  if  I  get  one,  and  if 
there's  a  Phillypeeny  post  and  I  don't  get  one,  well, 
I  pity  the  ladies'  hair  I  dress  to-morrow,  that's  all ! 
[To  STEVEN.]  Mr.  Carley,  you've  got  lovely  soft 
hair,  haven't  you?  I  know  you  have  a  lovely 
disposition,  I  can  tell  it  from  your  hair.  Yes, 
indeed,  they  always  go  together,  it's  a  certain  sign ! 
Now  Mrs.  Wishings'  hair  is  just  like  a  horse's  tail ! 
what  there  is  of  it.  I  often  feel  like  asking  her 
which  she'd  rather  I  done  it,  on  or  off !  [Laughs 


HER   OWN   WAY  167 

heartily.]    I  must  have  my  little  joke,  but  nobody 
minds  me  —  good-by. 

STEVEN.   Good-by. 

[BELLA  goes  out  Left. 

GEORGIANA.  [Looking  up,  bursting  with  hap 
piness  and  reading  as  she  speaks.]  Oh,  Steve! 
Steve!  Such  good  news!  I  can  hardly  wait  to 
tell  you,  but  just  let  me  finish  it. 

STEVEN.  Finish  anything  that  means  good 
news,  Georgy,  and  then  for  heaven's  sake  tell 
me  what  it  is. 

GEORGIANA.   [Closing  the  letter.]    It's  finished! 

[She  looks  up  radiant  and  forgetful  of  him  for  a 
moment. 

STEVEN.   Well! 

[Rises  and  goes  to  GEORGIANA. 

GEORGIANA.   [Softly.]    Dick  loves  me! 

STEVEN.   Dick  Coleman? 


168  HER   OWN  WAY 

GEORGIANA.  He  loves  me,  he's  always  loved 
me! 

STEVEN.   But  why — ?    I  don't  understand  — 

GEORGIANA.  No,  I  didn't  know  it.  I  thought 
—  there  were  reasons  why  I  thought  he  didn't 
love  me.  But  I  understand  now.  Listen ;  I'll 
read  you  a  part  of  his  letter  —  a  part  oj  it !  Oh, 
this  makes  up  for  everything,  Steve.  [She  reads.] 
"My  dear  —  [She  stops  and  improvises  the  next 
three  words.]  my  dear  Georgy :  [She  looks  up  slyly  to 
see  if  Steven  noticed  the  change;  he  didn't.]  Each 
steamer  brings  me  letters  from  home,  but  never 
a  word  of  your  engagement  to  Coast,  never  a  word 
of  your  marriage.  Is  that  broken  off — "  How 
do  you  suppose  he  got  the  impression  I  was  going 
to  marry  Sam  ? 

STEVEN.  Why  everybody  has  seen,  who  cared 
to  look,  that  Sam  was  dead  in  love  with  you, 


HER    OWN   WAY  169 

GEORGIANA.  Yes,  but  —  well  —  never  mind, 
listen  —  "Well,  however  it  is,  we're  starting  off 
to-morrow  out  of  reach  of  letters  and  everything 
else,  except  an  ugly  band  of  natives  that  we  came 
here  to  do  for.  The  chances  are  pretty  big  against 
many  of  us  getting  back,  and  anyway  I'm  going  to 
take  this  chance  to  tell  you  that  I  love  you  better 
than  anything  and  everything  and  everybody  in 
the  world.  And  in  case  I  never  come  back, 
somehow  or  other,  I  don't  know  why,  I  want  you 
to  know  it.  I  was  a  little  late  in  finding  it  out,  — 
all  of  a  sudden  I  knew  you  were  the  only  woman 
for  me,  and  that  the  only  thing  I  seemed  to  want  in 
the  world  was  you  for  a  wife.  And  there  was  Coast 
ahead  of  me !  I  don't  know  if  it  would  have  made 
any  difference  if  you  loved  Coast  and  not  me,  per 
haps  you  never  would  have  cared  for  me,  but  I'd 
have  done  my  best,  for,  Georgy  —  I  love  you  — 


17°  HER    OWN    WAY 

[She  reads  ahead  to  herself,  murmuring  so  he  cannot 

understand.]     "I    don't    know   why    I   must    tell 

you  all  this,  but  I  must"-      [She  reads  ahead 

again  in  silence,  skipping  the  passages  which  are 

too   loving    and   too   precious   to   read   aloud.]    I 

think   that's  all  —  [She  looks  up  and  smiles,   and 

adds  softly.]  that  I  care  to  read  aloud  !     Oh,  Steve ! 

[She  puts  her  arms  around  his  neck  and  hugs  him. 

STEVEN.   I'm  so  glad,  old  girl,  so  glad ! 

[Tightening  his  arm  about  her. 
GEORGIANA.   Steve,    I'm    so    happy!    I    don't 
want  to  seem  selfish,  and   really  I'm   not   forget 
ting  you,  but  I  can't  help  it.     I'm  so  happy. 

[STEVEN  kisses  her.    A  short  pause. 
GEORGIANA.   [Softly,    thoughtfully.]    Can    one 
cable  to  the  Philippines? 
STEVEN.  Yes! 
[Smiling  and  again  giving  her  a  little  squeeze. 


HER   OWN   WAY  171 

GEORGIANA.  [Going  to  the  so} a.]  So  far  as  I'm 
concerned,  my  money  now  doesn't  count  a  rap. 
Dick  has  plenty  and  doesn't  want  mine.  So  now 
it's  only  Louise  and  mother  you  must  think  of, 
and  you  can  take  care  of  them  well,  you  know 
you  can,  if  they'll  only  accept  the  different  condi 
tions.  And  Dick  and  I'll  help  — 

STEVEN.  [Interrupting.]  I  hate  to  say  it,  Geor- 
giana,  but  suppose  — 

[Very  serious. 

GEORGIANA.  What? 

STEVEN.  Well,  you  know  why  Dick  wrote  that 
letter,  —  because  he  was  going  into  dangerous 
fighting. 

GEORGIANA.  Oh,  he  will  come  back,  he  must 
come  back!  So  few  of  our  men  have  been  lost 
in  the  Philippines,  Dick  can't  be  one  of  the  few. 
After  all,  life  nowadays  isn't  so  tragic  as  that. 


172  HER    OWN   WAY 

STEVEN.  Yes,  of  course  Dick'll  come  back, 
Georgy  [Short  pause.],  but  won't  he  despise  me? 
GEORGIANA.  No,  you're  my  brother.  And  oh, 
Steven,  forgive  me,  but  I'm  so  happy.  [Hugging 
the  pillows  on  the  sofa  and  burying  her  face  in 
them.]  Don't  let  me  be  silly  —  don't  let  me 
forget  I'm  an  old  maid,  —  and  there's  no  fool 
like  an  old  fool !  I  mustn't  forget  there's  prob 
ably  an  orange  or  two  among  the  blossoms  for 
my  hair! 

[MRS.  CARLEY  and  LOUISE  come  into  the  room 
from  the  Right  without  speaking.     They  look 
from  GEORGIANA  to  STEVEN.     They  are  under 
the  strain  of  violent  emotion  almost  too  much 
for     words.     Their     appearance    is    tragic.] 
There  is  a  pause. 
STEVEN.   Sam  has  told  you? 
LOUISE.   It  isn't  true  what  he  says? 


HER   OWN   WAY  173 

MRS.    CARLEY.   [Bursting    out,    as    the    strain 
breaks.}    That  everything's  gone?    Everything! 
[MRS.  CARLEY  comes  to  STEVEN. 

STEVEN.   Yes,  it's  true!  — 

[He  moves  up. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  We  haven't  a  cent?  — not  a 
penny!  for  car  fare  !  for  theatre  tickets !  nothing 
for  our  wash  bills,  or  to  go  away  with  in  the 
summer ! 

LOUISE.  Georgiana's  money  gone  too  —  now, 
Steve? 

MRS.  CARLEY.   As  well  as  Louise's  and  mine  ? 

GEORGIANA.  Yes,  mine's  gone  too  now,  but 
I'm  going  to  take  it  just  as  sensibly  as  Louise  did 
before  me. 

MRS.    CARLEY.    She   had   yours   to   fall   back 


on, 


GEORGIANA,   And  I'm  going  to  take  myself  off 


174  HER    OWN   WAY 

your  hands,  and  Steve  is  perfectly  capable  of  get 
ting  some  dignified  position  and  taking  care  of 
you  and  Louise. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Yes,  I  can  imagine  what  that 
means !  A  flat  with  rooms  like  a  string  of  buttons, 
mantelpiece  beds  and  divans !  and  all  your  friends 
trying  to  get  into  the  bathroom  when  they  are 
looking  for  the  hall  door  to  get  out! 

[COAST  comes  in  from  the  Right.     They  all  look 
at  SAM. 

GEORGIANA.  Do  you  think  Sam  has  a  place 
here  in  what  we  may  say  now  ? 

LOUISE.   Why  not?    He's  my  cousin. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Yes.  And  the  only  one  of  us 
now  anyway  who  has  a  cent. 

LOUISE.  I  don't  think  we  can  expect  much 
help  from  Sam  as  to  money. 

COAST.  That  shows  you  don't  know  me. 


HER   OWN  WAY  175 

LOUISE.   [Going  to  COAST.]    You'll  help  us? 

COAST.  I've  offered  to  make  up  every  cent 
Steve's  lost;  ask  Georgiana. 

GEORGIANA.  Yes,  Sam  offered  to  make  a 
"trade"  with  me  — 

MRS.  CARLEY.  How? 

[Looks  at  GEORGIANA. 

GEORGIANA.  To  make  up  Steve's  losses  if  I'd 
marry  him. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Quickly  to  COAST.]  Sam !  It's 
too  good  to  be  true. 

COAST.   So  Georgiana  thinks. 

LOUISE.   [Angrily.}  You  won't  do  it? 

GEORGIANA.  No,  I  don't  love  your  cousin. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Don't  love  him  1  What  do  you 
owe  us?  Louise  loved  Steve  and  what  good  did 
it  do  her  ?  You've  got  the  chance  to  make  up  for 
your  brother  I 


176  HER   OWN  WAY 

STEVEN.  That's  not  Georgiana's  duty,  —  to 
make  up  for  me. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  You  can't  do  it  yourself,  and 
you  don't  want  your  wife  to  starve,  do  you. 

GEORGIANA.   Louise  won't  starve. 

LOUISE.  [To  GEORGIANA.]  You  could  save 
us  and  you  won't! 

GEORGIANA.   I  don't  love  Sam. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Don't  "love"?  Did  Molly 
Packer  from  Toledo  love  the  Duke  of  Birming 
ham?  and  isn't  she  happy  now? 

GEORGIANA.   I  don't  know,  I  have  my  doubts. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Doubts!    Oh,  doubts/ 

GEORGIANA.  That's  not  the  point,  mother. 
I'm  not  going  to  marry  Sam. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Oh,  very  well,  then,  have  your 
way. 

GEORGIANA.  I  will,  mother. 


HER    OWN   WAY  177 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Going  to  the  sofa.]  Don't  con 
sider  my  way  at  all. 

GEORGIANA.  I  won't,  mother,  since  you  ask  me 
not  to. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  But  I'll  tell  you  this,  Georgiana, 
you're  just  as  bad  as  Steve !  We  must  shake  off 
both  of  you.  Louise  must  get  a  divorce  and 
marry  again.  Look  what  other  widows  have 
done  before  her. 

[Louise  goes  to  her  mother  and  takes  her  hand. 

GEORGIANA.   Mother!  Louise! 

LOUISE.   Well,  why  not? 

MRS.    CARLEY.   Certainly! 

GEORGIANA.  [Goes  to  them.]  No!  Listen!  You 
must  stand  by  Steve,  both  of  you.  You  ought 
to  do  it  out  of  affection,  for,  after  all,  whatever 
you've  got  of  friends  and  position  and  the  things 
you  value  he  gave  you !  But  never  mind  that ! 
N 


178  HER   OWN   WAY 

You  ought  to  stand  by  him  out  of  loyalty,  —  but 
never  mind  that!  You've  got  to  stand  by  him 
because  if  you  ruin  him  you'll  ruin  yourselves. 
You  and  mother  could  never  hold  up  your  heads 
again  in  our  world  —  in  the  world  you  love  —  if 
you  left  Steve.  After  all,  though  our  world  may 
be  careless  sometimes  of  what  it  does  itself,  it  is 
very  particular  about  what  those  people  do  who 
are  its  guests!  Of  course,  Louise,  it  does  come 
hardest  on  you,  for  yourself  and  for  the  children 
-  but  still  you've  got  to  stand  by  Steve. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Sam! 

[Going  to  SAM  for  help. 

LOUISE.   Oh,  I  suppose  I'll  forgive  him,  I  always 
do,  but  I  don't  know  about  forgiving  you. 

GEORGIANA.  Me? 

LOUISE.   If  you  don't  marry  Sam!     You  can 
make  everything  all  right,  and  Sam  loves  you  — 


HER    OWN   WAY  179 

you  can  make  mother  happy  and  me  happy  and 
Steve  happy.  .  .  . 

STEVEN.   [Interrupting.]    No,  leave  me  out! 

[He  goes  up  behind  the  sofa. 

LOUISE.  Our  life  would  go  on  just  the  same,  — 
Steve  will  make  no  more  mistakes.  I  think 
you're  heartless  to  refuse ! 

GEORGIANA.  But,  Louise,  you  ask  me  to  give  up 
entirely  my  own  happiness. 

LOUISE.  Not  at  all!  There's  no  one  else  in 
love  with  you  but  Sam,  and  this  isn't  your  first 
year  out,  you  know. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  And  anyway  it  would  be  five 
happy  against  one  unhappy,  there's  no  arguing 
about  that. 

COAST.  [To  LOUISE.]  You  and  your  mother 
both  think  she  ought  to  accept  me,  don't  you  ? 

LOUISE.   Certainly. 


i8o  HER    OWN   WAY 

COAST.   [To  GEORGIANA.]    I  told  you. 

GEORGIANA.  Yes,  Sam,  you  win !  —  but  Louise ! 
I  love  some  one  else. 

LOUISE.   Dick  Coleman? 

GEORGIANA.  Yes,  and  I'm  going  to  marry 
him. 

COAST.  [Turning  quickly.]  Has  he  asked 
you? 

GEORGIANA.   Yes!  To-day! 

[Showing  her  letter.  MRS.  CARLE Y  sits  on  the 
sofa. 

COAST.  [Angry,  to  LOUISE.]  Then  you  bring 
suit  against  Steve  and  I'll  back  you  up,  —  I'll 
bet  you  I'll  get  your  case ! 

LOUISE.   But  Steve  hasn't  any  money. 

COAST.  No,  but  you  can  show  him  up !  You 
can  blackguard  his  name  for  him !  You  can  dis 
grace  him  in  the  papers ! 


HER    OWN  W 'AY  181 

LOUISE.  But  I  don't  want  to  do  that !  It  would 
only  make  things  worse. 

GEORGIANA.   Good,  Louise! 

COAST.  I'll  bet  the  bank  and  Steve's  brokers 
won't  be  so  soft-hearted. 

GEORGIANA.   There's  this  house  for  the  bank. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Crying.]  This  house!  I  shall  die! 
[GEORGIANA  goes  to  her. 

GEORGIANA.  Oh,  no,  you  won't;  you'll  live 
very  happily  in  a  nice  little  flat,  with  two  servants 
and  a  polite  elevator  boy  in  buttons. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   [Pitifully.]     Louise! 

GEORGIANA.  And  Mr.  Caldwell  I  am  going  to 
see  at  the  ball  to-night.  I  believe  he  will  help  us 
if  he  can. 

LOUISE.  You're  going  to  the  ball?  In  spite  of 
everything  ? 

GEORGIANA.   Yes,  we  must.     Let's  have  as  little 


1 82  HER    OWN   WAY 

talk  about  the  whole  thing  as  possible.  Steve's 
had  bad  luck!  The  people  mustn't  think  there's 
anything  we're  ashamed  of.  There  isn't  any 
thing. 

COAST.   Oh,  isn't  there? 

GEORGIANA.    No. 

[LOUISE  gets  the  smelling  salts  from  the  table  for 
MRS.  CARLEY. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  It's  true;  so  long  as  we've  lost 
everything  else,  I  don't  see  why  she  should  lose 
the  ball  too ! 

[Using  the  smelling  salts. 

LOUISE.  And  I  suppose  we  really  ought  to  be 
seen  there,  or  lots  of  people  will  never  believe  we 
were  asked. 

COAST.  Well,  I  guess  this  is  where  I  get  out. 
I'll  strike  one  of  those  musical  comedies !  I  think 
ragtime  will  be  good  enough  for  me  to-night, 


HER    OWN    WAY  183 

instead  of  a  neck  and  arm  circus.  You  won't 
want  me  for  escort  after  all  this? 

LOUISE.   You  can  please  yourself,  Sam. 

COAST.  Not  exactly;  I  guess  this  is  the  day  I 
try  sour  grapes.  [Goes  to  door  Left,  —  he  turns.] 
When's  Coleman  coming  back,  Georgiana  ? 

GEORGIANA.  I  don't  know. 

COAST.  Oh!  [Goes  to  STEVEN  at  mantel.] 
Steve  —  listen  —  how  long  are  they  holding  that 
rotten  stock  of  yours  for  you? 

STEVEN.   [Laughs.]    Ha !    till  to-morrow  noon. 

COAST.  Well,  cheer  up,  I'll  send  her  up  ten 
points  for  you  by  eleven.  [Slaps  him  on  the  back.] 
See  you  all  later,  maybe,  if  my  show's  dull. 

[And  with  a  side  glance  at  GEORGIANA  he  goes 
out  Left. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Rises.]  I  only  wish  to  heaven 
Sam  Coast  wanted  to  marry  me  I 


184  HER    OWN   WAY 

LOUISE.   Mother!    Come,  let's  finish  dressing. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  I  don't  know  whether  to  go  to 
the  ball  or  stay  home  and  have  a  good  cry. 

GEORGIANA.  Do  whichever  gives  you  the  most 
pleasure,  mother. 

[LIZZIE  enters  Right  and  stands  behind  the  dress 
ing  table. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  What?  [Looking  at  herself  in 
the  glass.]  It's  all  very  well  for  them  to  give  us 
women  a  new  front,  I  wish  they'd  give  us  new 
backs  too. 

[She  goes  out  Right. 

LIZZIE.  You  must  start  dressing,  miss  —  Miss 
Shindle  will  be  back. 

GEORGIANA.  [Absent-mindedly.]  Yes,  yes,  Lizzie. 

[LizziE  goes  out.] 

Louise,    I'm    so    glad  you  will    stand   by   Steve; 
and  try  and  be  glad  a  little  for  me. 


HER   OWN   WAY  185 

[Placing  her  arm  about    LOUISE. 

LOUISE.  Yes,  I  don't  blame  you,  Georgy,  so 
long  as  Dick's  proposed.  I'd  do  just  as  you've 
done,  and  I  will  be  glad  for  you  by  to-morrow,  — 
I  am  glad  now. 

[Kisses  her  impulsively. 

GEORGIANA.  Thank  you,  Louise,  dear. 

[She  goes  out  Right. 

STEVEN.   Louise ! 

LOUISE.  [Comes  to  STEVE.]  Steve.  [LOUISE 
touches  STEVE  on  the  arm,]  I  don't  want  to  be 
horrid,  but  do  you  think  you  will  be  able  to  get 
anything  decent  to  do? 

STEVEN.   I'm  sure  I  will. 

LOUISE.  But  will  we  have  enough  money  to 
hold  our  own? 

STEVEN.  I'll  do  my  best.  Louise,  I  appreciate 
your  not  making  more  of  a  row! 


186  HER   OWN   WAY 

[With  his  arm  around  her. 

LOUISE.  Oh,  Steve,  I  know  it's  just  as  hard  for 
you  —  and  I  do  love  you  and  I  want  to  be  nice 
about  it,  but  —  [She  cries.  STEVEN  kisses  her 
again,  in  his  arms.]  I  mustn't  give  way  like  this. 
I'll  be  a  sight  at  the  ball.  Don't  let  me  cry,  dear. 

STEVEN.  All  right.  Come  on  upstairs  now,  and 
make  yourself  beautiful. 

[They  go  toward  the  door  Right. 

BELLA.  [Reentering  Left.]  Good  evening  again, 
is  Miss  Georgiana  ready  for  me  ? 

LOUISE.   She  must  be,  —  is  my  hair  all  right  ? 

BELLA.  Oh,  yes,  that's  one  thing  about  my 
hair  dressing,  though  I  do  say  it  as  shouldn't,  it 
has  a  lasting  quality. 

[LOUISE  goes  out  Right. 

GEORGIANA.  [Calls  from  inside.]  Is  that  you, 
Bella? 


HER   OWN   WAY  187 

BELLA.   Yes,  ma'am. 

GEORGIANA.  I'll  be  there  in  a  minute  —  be 
quick,  Lizzie. 

BELLA.  {Lower  voice.]  Mr.  Carley,  have  you 
seen  the  evening  papers? 

STEVEN.  No ! 

BELLA.  I  just  bought  one  and  it's  got  an  article 
about  the  gist  regiment. 

STEVEN.   What  about  it? 

[Looks  to  see  if  door  is  closed. 

BELLA.  [Same  voice.]  They  say  it  may  'a'  been 
wiped  out  of  existence :  it's  three  weeks  now  since 
news  of  it  was  due,  and  the  paper's  afraid  they've 
met  with  an  ambyscade  or  something  like  that. 

STEVEN.  Oh,  when  the  newspapers  are  hard 
up  for  news  they  get  up  something  about  the 
Philippines !  It's  the  modern  sea-serpent.  When 
there's  absoutely  nothing  else  to  print  —  no  girl 


i88  HER    OWN   WAY 

suicide  in  Brooklyn,  or  cyclone  in  Kansas,  or  joke 
on  Chicago,  then  they  give  the  Philippines  a  para 
graph  or  an  insurrection.  Don't  you  worry,  Miss 
Shindle. 

[He  sils  in  the  arm-chair  near  the  soja. 

BELLA.  But  it  says  the  island  they  went  against 
was  the  heathenest  of  the  lot,  and  that  there's 
no  good  reason  why  if  they'd  hadn't  no  fight  with 
the  natives,  we  shouldn't  'a'  had  news  from  them. 

STEVEN.  The  whole  question  of  news  in  a  case 
like  this  is  too  uncertain  to  make  so  much  alarm 
about.  The  men's  idea  is  not  to  send  picture  pos 
tal  cards  of  daily  movements  home  to  America, 
but  to  lick  the  natives  into  shape ! 

BELLA.  I'm  sure  you  do  comfort  me.  Don't 
know  as  Miss  Georgiana  told  you,  but  my  young 
man's  out  there,  with  Mr.  —  Lieutenant  Cole- 
man. 


HER    OWN   WAY  189 

STEVEN.  Well,  don't  worry.  You  just  make  up 
your  mind  the  papers  are  short  of  news  to-night. 

BELLA.  Goodness,  they  won't  be  to-morrow 
with  all  they're  going  to  print  about  this  ball! 
Say,  I've  a  friend  who's  sister's  a  literary  lady  and 
writes  for  the  Sunday  papers  in  Buffalo.  She's 
got  an  article  in  my  line,  called  the  "Heads  of  the 
Smart  Set  which  was  Set  at  the  Grand  Duke." 
Ain't  that  a  cute  name  for  an  article  ?  And  it  don't 
mean  their  heads  either;  it  means  their  coffyures, 
as  she  says  —  she  speaks  French.  She  was  born 
and  raised  in  Niagara  Falls,  near  to  Canada,  where 
the  language  comes  natural, — over  the  water,  as  it 
were! 

STEVEN.  [Going  to  her.]  I  wouldn't  mention 
this  newspaper  report  to  Miss  Carley  —  it  would 
only  needlessly  alarm  her,  perhaps,  and  spoil  her 
evening. 


IQO  HER   OWN   WAY 

BELLA.   Oh,  I  wouldn't  for  worlds. 

[She  moves  to  the  dressing  table  as  GEORGIANA 
comes  in. 

GEORGIANA.  Here  I  am !  Oh,  my  dear  Steve ! 
You'll  be  late.  You're  not  dressed  yet. 

STEVEN.  All  right.  I'm  going  now  —  I  was 
entertaining  Miss  Shindle  till  you  were  ready. 

[With  a  bow  to  Miss  SHINDLE,  STEVEN  goes  out 
Right. 

BELLA.  [Taking  her  bottles,  etc.,  from  a  little  bag 
which  she  carries.]  He  is  a  perfect  gentleman ! 

GEORGIANA.  [Sitting  before  the  dressing  table.] 
Now  come  along,  Bella  !  I  only  want  you  to  brush 
my  hair;  I've  had  a  trying  evening  here,  and  I've 
a  splitting  headache.  See  if  you  can  take  it  away 
and  make  me  look  as  if  I'd  never  had  one. 

BELLA.  [Tying  apron  about  GEORGIANA'S  neck.] 
I'll  do  my  best;  but  I  can  tell  you  most  of  the 


HER   OWN   WAY  I91 

ladies  I  know'd  be  willing  to  have  a  headache 
every  blessed  minute  of  their  lives  if  they  could 
look  as  you  do  now ! 

GEORGIANA.   Oh,  what  blarney,  Bella !    I  don't 
know,  somehow  I  want  to  be  beautiful  to-night. 
BELLA.  For  the  Book? 

[Beginning  to  brush  her  hair. 
GEORGIANA.  No! 
BELLA.  For  him? 
[Pointing  at  COLEMAN'S  photograph  with  her 

hair-brush. 

GEORGIANA.  Yes.  [Drawing  the  picture  toward 
her.]    It  was  a  dear  letter  I  had  from  him  to-night, 
Bella!    I  hope  you'll  have  as  nice  a  one  from 
Mr.  Gootch  to-morrow  morning. 
BELLA.  Well,  if  I  don't  — 
[Shutting    her    teeth,    she    unconsciously    pulls 
GEORGIANA'S  hair. 


192  HER   OWN   WAV 

GEORGIANA.   Oh,  oh ! 

BELLA.   Oh,  I  beg  your  pardon ! 

GEORGIANA.  Don't  take  it  out  on  me,  wait  till 
Mr.  Gootch  gets  back ! 

BELLA.  [Combing.]  I  don't  know  as  you're  the 
jealous  kind.  Judging  from  your  hair  you  ain't. 
It  usually  goes  with  blonde  or  red,  or  else  crimpy, 
and  what  I  dislike  about  red  hair  is  the  freckles  — 
you  can  almost  count  on  'em !  You've  got  sort  of 
trusting  hair.  But  besides,  Mr.  Coleman  wasn't 
a  floor  walker  in  a  shop  with  over  a  hundred  lady 
clerks  —  I  think  that's  apt  to  make  a  gentleman 
flightier;  and  he  being  bald,  has  me  to  a  disadvan 
tage,  so  to  speak.  I  can't  judge  by  my  customary 
signs. 

GEORGIANA.  [Looking  at  COLEMAN'S  photo 
graph.]  Bella,  I  should  say  Lieutenant  Coleman 
has  splendid,  straight,  honest  hair,  shouldn't  you  ? 


HER   OWN   WAY  193 

BELLA.  I  can't  say  as  I've  ever  really  had  any 
experience  of  his  hair,  ma'am. 

GEORGIANA.  But  do  you  think  him  an  awfully 
handsome  man,  Bella,  or  am  I  prejudiced  ? 

BELLA.  No,  indeed,  I  never  seen  a  handsomer 
gentleman,  not  even  in  the  pictures  of  gentlemen's 
clothes  in  tailor  store  windows.  [Puts  comb 
down,  and  takes  brush  and  brushes  again.]  But 
what  continues  to  make  me  nervous  about  Mr. 
Gootch  is  that  he's  right  there  among  all  those 
black  creatures,  whose  manners  is  very  free,  I'm 
told,  and  whose  style  of  dressing  is  peculiar,  the 
least  you  say!  Mr.  Gootch  always  did  favor 
dark-complexioned  people,  and  if  that  letter 
don't  come  to-morrow  — 

[Getting  excited,  she  again  pulls  GEORGIANA'S 
hair. 

GEORGIANA.   Ouch!    [Laughing,  holds  up  her 


I94  HER    OWN   WAY 

hand  and  catches  her  hair  to  ward  off  another  pull.] 
Be  careful ! 

BELLA.  Excuse  me !  in  my  art,  there's  no  use 
talking,  you  oughtn't  let  your  mind  wander  from 
the  subject  in  hand  —  does  your  head  feel  better  ? 

GEORGIANA.  I  don't  know,  Bella,  if  it  does  or 
not !  Your  treatment  is  very  heroic. 

BELLA.  [Spraying  her  hair.]  You  don't  feel 
worried  about  something  happening  to  them  way 
out  there,  do  you,  Miss  Georgiana? 

GEORGIANA.  I  daren't  think  of  it.  Oh,  Bella, 
I've  had  lots  of  trouble  to-day,  and  I've  a  serious 
time  ahead  of  me  —  but  all  the  same  I  am  such  a 
happy  woman.  [Turning  to  look  at  BELLA,  she 
disarranges  her  hair,  much  to  BELLA'S  disapproval.] 
Do  you  love  Mr.  Gootch  tremendously,  Bella? 

BELLA.  Why,  love  isn't  the  word!  my  feeling 
for  Mr.  Gootch  is  a  positive  worship.  When  I 


HER    OWN   WAY  195 

get  to  thinking  of  him  in  the  underground  I  always 
go  by  my  station,  sometimes  two. 

GEORGIANA.  Be  grateful  for  your  love,  Bella; 
it's  a  wonderful  thing. 

BELLA.  [Finishing  the  dressing  of  the  hair.] 
You  know  I've  just  done  Mrs.  Wishings,  she  puts 
too  much  on ! 

GEORGIANA.   Does  she  rouge? 

BELLA.  No,  hair.  I  don't  mind  a  switch  or  two 
for  foundation,  and  a  couple  of  puffs  for  ornament, 
with  a  tight  curl  or  two  for  style,  —  especially  if 
you've  got  one  of  those  new  undilated  fronts,  but 
I  think  that's  all  you  can  expect  to  have  any  hair 
dresser  make  look  as  if  it  growed  there.  There ! 
How's  that? 

[Puts  hairpin  in  GEORGIANA'S  hair. 

GEORGIANA.  [Holding  up  DICK'S  photograph.] 
How's  that,  Dick  —  is  it  all  right  ? 


I96  HER    OWN   WAY 

BELLA.   [Delighted.]    Ain't  that  a  cute  idea? 

GEORGIANA.  We  both  trust  you,  Bella ,  to  make 
me  all  right. 

BELLA.   What  ornaments? 

[Taking  off  the  apron,  she  walks  around  to  Right 
of  the  table. 

GEORGIANA.  Would  you  wear  any  ? 

BELLA.  Oh,  yes,  for  such  an  occasion !  Of 
course,  for  maidens  only  feathers  is  correct ;  for 
wives  and  widows,  tiaras  and  feathers. 

[Putting  away  her  things.  MRS.  CARLEY  enters 
in  a  flurry  of  excitement,  superbly  dressed,  and 
too  youthfully. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Here  I  am;  I've  hurried  so  I 
don't  feel  half  dressed. 

GEORGIANA.  [Smiling.]  That's  almost  the 
way  you  look,  mother. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Well,  I  always  did  have  shoul- 


HER    OWN   WAY  197 

ders,  and  I  don't  intend  to  hide  them  under  a 
bushel;  but  what  do  you  think  of  the  dress,  is  it 
a  success? 

GEORGIANA.  From  your  point  of  view  —  per 
fect! 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Yes,  but  what's  the  differ 
ence  about  your  point  of  view  about  it  and 
mine? 

GEORGIANA.  Well,  I  should  think  about  thirty 
years,  darling! 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Oh,  Georgiana,  you  really  are 
unkind.  When  I  don't  know  how  on  earth  it's 
ever  going  to  be  paid  for  now,  I  think  you 
might  be  serious,  and  let  me  feel  anyway  its  a 
success. 

GEORGIANA.  Mother  dear,  it's  a  triumph. 
Really,  I  never  saw  you  look  better! 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Really !  and  how  is  my  hair  ? 


198  HER    OWN   WAY 

GEORGIANA.   Redder! 

BELLA.  Oh,  Miss  Georgiana,  it  isn't  too  red  a 
bit. 

GEORGIANA.  It's  very  fine,  Bella,  but  I  think 
I'd  take  off  a  little.  You  don't  want  Mrs.  Carley 
to  rival  Mrs.  Wishings  and  look  as  if  she'd 
cornered  the  hair  market. 

BELLA.   She's  just  teasing  you. 

[GEORGIANA  has  risen. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   You  are  lovely,  Georgiana. 

GEORGIANA.  That's  because  my  thoughts  are 
lovely. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  I'm  awfully  proud  of  you,  dear, 
and  wish  you  were  my  own  daughter. 

GEORGIANA.   Thank  you,  mother. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  The  Grand  Duke  will  surely 
notice  you.  Aren't  you  going  to  put  something 
in  your  hair? 


HER    OWN   WAV  199 

BELLA.   [Handing  it  to  GEORGIANA.]     A  rose 
with  glass  dewdrops. 

[Newsboy's  voice  heard  in  the  street  —  calling, 
"Extra  —  Extra  —  Terrible "  —  the  rest  is  in 
distinct. 

GEORGIANA.   What's  that? 
MRS.  CARLEY.   A  newsboy  with  an  extra. 
[Man's  voice  outside,  u  Extra —  Extra — Terri 
ble" —  the  rest  is  still  indistinct.     LOUISE  en 
ters,  beautifully  dressed. 
BELLA.   Oh! 

GEORGIANA.   Lovely,  Louise! 
LOUISE.   I've  got  a  splitting  headache.     [Man's 
voice  outside,  "Extra  —  Extra."]    What  can   the 
extra  be?     [Enter  STEVEN.]     Steve,  do  you  know 
what  the  extra  is? 

STEVEN.     Oh,    they're    never     anything     you 
know. 


200  HER    OWN   WAY 

[In  distance  are  heard  several  voices  at  once  at 
different  distances,  all  calling,  "Extra  — 
Extra  —  Terrible"  —  etc. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Yes,  they're  always  so  disap 
pointing,  generally  a  railway  accident  out  west ! 
or  a  bomb  thrown  in  Europe.  Are  you  ready, 
Georgiana  ? 

[The  "Extras"  are  louder. 
STEVEN.    Yes,  if  we're  going  we  ought  to  go. 
["Extra  —  Extra, "  called  underneath  the  window. 
GEORGIANA.   Listen,  what  did  he  say? 
[Voice  shouts   outside,    "  Terrible  fight    in    the 
Philippines;     an      entire     regiment     wiped 
out!" 
BELLA.   [Frightened.]    I  heard  "  Philippines." 

[Goes  to  the  window. 

GEORGIANA.  And  a  terrible  fight!  Some  one 
must  get  the  paper ! 


HER    OWN   WAY  201 

STEVEN.   We  haven't  time  now,  Georgy. 
MRS.  CARLEY.   Yes,  we  must  be  there  before 
the  Grand  Duke  arrives. 

[Outside,  "Extra  —  Extra!  " 
GEORGIANA.   I  must  see  that  paper,  Steve. 
MRS.  CARLEY.   Georgiana,  I  think  you  are  too 
thoughtless. 

[Outside,  "Entire  regiment  wiped  out  I" 
GEORGIANA.   Steve,  do  you  hear  that !    Will  you 
get  the  paper  or  shall  I  call  to  the  man  ? 

STEVEN.  I'll  get  it.  [Goes  to  a  window  and 
opens  it,  pulling  aside  the  curtain.  He  calls  down 
to  the  boy  in  the  street.]  Here  !  Hi !  Extra ! 

[Voice  outside,  "Here  you  are,  boss!" 
STEVEN.  Ring  the  bell. 

[He  comes  back  into  the  room.     One  "Extra" 
is  heard  louder  than  before,  and  then  the  cries 
gradually  die  away. 


202  HER    OWN   WAY 

MRS.  CARLEY.  The  carriage  has  already  been 
here  nearly  an  hour. 

GEORGIANA.  It  if  should  be  Dick's  fight,  if  it 
should  be  Dick's  regiment ! 

LOUISE.  Make  up  your  mind,  mother,  to  be 
a  little  late.  We  can't  go  till  we  see  the 
paper. 

GEORGIANA.  [At  the  door  Right.]  Lizzie! 
Where  is  she?  Didn't  he  go  to  the  door  with  the 
paper,  Steve? 

BELLA.  I'll  see,  miss. 

[She  goes  out  Right. 

STEVEN.  Yes.  I  saw  him.  But,  Georgy,  it 
won't  be  Dick's  regiment. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [By  the  sofa.]  Louise,  I'll  tell 
you  what  we'll  do,  let's  go  down  and  be  getting  on 
our  wraps. 

LOUISE.   No,  mother,  wait. 


HER    OWN    WAY  203 

GEORGIAN  A.  No,  Louise,  go  down,  please,  with 
mother.  I'd  rather. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Going  out  Left.]  Yes,  come 
along. 

[LOUISE  looks  at  GEORGIANA,  who  nods  her  head 

"Yes"  to  go. 
LOUISE.   I'll  come  back. 

[She  follows  MRS.  CARLEY  out.  LIZZIE  enters 
Right  with  the  paper.  GEORGIANA  takes  the 
paper  from  LIZZIE,  who  immediately  goes  out 
Right. 

STEVEN.  Shall  I  look? 

GEORGIANA.  [Standing  by  the  sofa.]  No,  I 
will.  Here  it  is  —  "  Battle  with  Ladrones.  The 
9ist  Regiment  of  New  York,  which  went  out 
under  Captain  H.  S.  Miller  to  subdue  the  bandits 
in  the  Island  of  Orla,  met  an  ambuscade  of  the 
Ladrones  and  were  annihilated  almost  to  a  man." 


204  HER    OWN  WAY 

[She  looks  up  dazed,  not  able  at  once  to  realize  what 
it  means.  Rereads,  skipping  some  lines.}  "  Cap 
tain  H.  S.  Miller  who  went  out  under  —  to  subdue 
the  bandits  in  the  —  met  an  ambuscade  of  the 
Ladrones  and  was  annihilated  almost  to  a  man." 
Steve !  his  regiment,  —  do  you  think  it's  true  ? 
Do  you  think  it  can  be  true  ? 

STEVEN.   [Beside  her.}    No,  let  me  read  it. 

GEORGIANA.  [She  sinks  down  on  the  end  of  the 
sofa.]  No,  I  will!  [She  reads  on.]  "News  was 
brought  by  private  —  private  —  [Her  eyes  hurry 
ing  on.]  the  sole  survivors.  Privates — "  [Her 
eyes  run  along  the  printed  lines  again.}  Steve,  I 
can't  see  his  name.  Isn't  it  there?  Can't  you 
see  it? 

STEVEN.   [Looking}    No. 

GEORGIANA.   [Almost  whispers.}    It  means — ? 

STEVEN.   [Striving  to  hide  his  own  emotion  and 


HER   OWN   WAY  205 

to  encourage  her.]    The  news  is  too  meagre  to  be 
true.  * 

MRS.  CARLEY.   [In  hall  Left.]    Georgiana!    We 

must  go. 

GEORGIANA.   [Starts.     To  STEVEN.]    Don't  let 
mother  come  in,  please. 

LOUISE.   [Just    outside    the    door.]     Georgiana, 
we  must  go. 

GEORGIANA.   [To  STEVEN.]    Say  I'm  corning. 

STEVEN.   I  can't  leave  you  alone.     [Going  to  the 
door.]     Georgy's  coming. 

LOUISE.    [Outside.]     Good!  Hurry! 

STEVEN.   [Coming  back   to   her.]    But  I   can't 
leave  you. 

GEORGIANA.   You  must.     And  anyway  I  want 
you  to.     I  want  to  be  alone. 

[STEVEN    hesitates.     He   comes    and   takes    her 
hand  and  is  about  to  kiss  her,  but  something 


206  HER    OWN   WAY 

keeps  him  back;  he  presses  her  hand  and  she 
gives  a  grateful  look.  She  crosses  to  the  dress 
ing  table  and  sits  before  it,  dazed.  Slowly  she 
takes  the  -flowers  from  her  hair,  the  pearls 
from  her  neck.  The  front  door  slams,  she 
lifts  her  head,  and  leaning  her  arm  toward 
DICK'S  picture,  draws  it  toward  her,  gazing 
at  it.  Then,  crying,  "Dick,  Dick"  she  bursts 
into  tears  and  drops  her  head  upon  her  arms 
outstretched  on  the  table  as 

THE   CURTAIN   FALLS 


ACT  IV 

Seven  weeks  later.  The  drawing-room  as  in  Act  II. 
GEORGIANA,  in  a  clinging  black  lace  dress,  is 
at  the  piano,  playing  "  Traumerei."  The  sun 
shine  pours  in  through  the  windows.  MOLES 
comes  in  apologetically  from  the  Left. 

MOLES.   Mr.  Coast  wants  to  know  if  you  will 
see  him,  miss. 

GEORGIANA.   [Who  continues  playing.]    Very 
well,  Moles. 

MOLES.   Shall  I  show  him  up  ? 
[GEORGIANA  nods  her  head.    MOLES  goes  out. 
GEORGIANA    continues    playing.    In    a    few 
seconds  MOLES  reenters  with  COAST. 
207 


208  HER   OWN   WAY 

COAST.   Good  morning,  Georgiana. 

[GEORGIANA,  half  smiling,  bows  very  imper 
sonally,  and  continues  playing  till  she  'finishes 
the  music.  COAST  leans  against  the  piano, 
facing  her,  and  watches  her  and  waits. 

GEORGIANA.  [When  she  has  finished.]  How 
long  is  it  since  you  and  I  have  been  friends  ? 

COAST.  It's  five  weeks  and  a  couple  of  days  — 
but  it  wasn't  my  fault. 

GEORGIANA.  Wasn't  it?  Well?  What  is  it? 
Why  do  you  want  to  see  me  ? 

COAST.    Same  reason  as  ever ! 

GEORGIANA.  No,  —  you  wouldn't  ask  me  that 
now! 

COAST.   Yes,  I  would ! 

GEORGIANA.  No,  Sam!  Love  isn't  a  game 
with  all  women,  if  you  lose  with  one  hand,  to  try 
another.  Do  you  mean  you  think  because  Dick 


HER    OWN   WAY  209 

is  dead,  it  would  be  any  more  possible  for  me 
to  care  for  you?  I  don't  respect  you,  Sam, 
and  I  don't  like  you,  —  and  that's  putting  it 
very  politely,  —  for  many  reasons;  but  one's 
enough  —  Steve! 

[COAST  looks  away. 

COAST.  [After  a  second's  pause.}  I've  let  you 
go  on  because  I  know  I  deserve  all  I  get;  and 
I've  caught  on  to  the  fact  that  you  won't  ever  care 
about  me  the  way  I  want.  Well,  it's  funny,  it 
don't  seem  to  make  much  difference  in  my  feel 
ings  for  you  all  the  same!  [Half  laughs.]  I 
ain't  exactly  ashamed  of  what  I've  done,  but 
I'm  sort  of  sorry  —  for  you. 

GEORGIANA.  [Rising.]  I  don't  want  your  sym 
pathy,  Sam. 

[She  comes  away  from  the  piano  and  he  follows 
her. 
p 


210  HER   OWN   WAY 

COAST.  Well,  you've  got  to  get  it,  anyway! 
That  you  can't  help,  and  if  you  can  help  loving 
me,  you  can't  help  my  loving  you!  Anyway,  I 
don't  want  you  to  have  to  get  out  o'  this  house. 

GEORGIANA.  That  is  all  settled  now;  we  can't 
afford  to  live  here,  of  course. 

COAST.   Yes,  you  can. 

GEORGIANA.   No,  no  —  Steve's  salary  — 

COAST.  Steve's  leaving  that  job;  he  don't  need 
that  money  any  longer. 

[He  looks  at  her,  she  looks  in  his  face  —  a  short 
pause;  then  — 

GEORGIANA.  You  don't  mean  you've  given 
Steve  - 

COAST.  Don't  worry,  I'm  giving  away  nothing. 
Steve's  got  a  new  job. 

GEORGIANA.  What? 

COAST.   I'm   going   home  —  leastways   so   far's 


HER    OWN   WAY  211 

Denver  — and  Steve's  going  to  look  after  my 
interests  here. 

GEORGIANA.  But  — 

COAST.  [Interrupting  her.]  Oh,  don't  worry 
—  he  can't  act  without  my  advice  —  and  that's 
just  the  kind  of  a  man  I  want!  I  don't  want 
none  of  these  here  fellers  who's  got  judgment  o' 
their  own !  Steve's  knows  he's  a  fool  in  business, 
and  he'll  obey  me  implicitly 

GEORGIANA.  [Sitting  by  the  table  Left.]  And 
Steve  is  willing  to  accept  from  you  — 

COAST.  [Interrupting.]  Oh,  I  guess  he  con 
siders  I  owe  him  that  much  anyway. 

GEORGIANA.  You  couldn't  repay  what  you 
owe  Steve. 

COAST.  That's  how  you  look  at  it !  Then  there's 
Coleman's  money. 

GEORGIANA.   Don't  speak  about  that,  please. 


212  HER   OWN    WAY 

COAST.  Why  not?  he's  left  it  to  you,  every 
body  knows  it,  and  it  must  be  a  good  deal. 

GEORGIANA.  I  can't  and  won't  discuss  that 
with  you. 

COAST.  [Goes  to  GEORGIANA.]  I  wish  you 
didn't  feel  so  hard  against  me,  Georgy ! 

GEORGIANA.  To  tell  you  the  truth,  Sam,  I 
don't  think  I  feel  anything  about  you. 

COAST.  Oh,  Lord,  that's  worse!  I  guess  I 
won't  stop  at  Denver, —  I'll  go  away  out  to  the 
mine  for  a  while  and  join  father.  —  Good-by. 

GEORGIANA.   Good-by. 

[Rises. 

COAST.   I   swore   off   a   lot   of   things  when   I 
thought  I  was  going  to  get  you,  Georgiana! 
GEORGIANA.   [Without  any  feeling.]    I'm  glad! 
COAST.   But  I  don't  want  to  put  on  any  bluff. 
I've  sworn  'em  all  on  again. 


HER    OWN   WAY  213 

[Going  Left. 

GEORGIANA.  [Same  voice,  without  feeling.]  I'm 
sorry. 

COAST.  [Turning  quickly  and  with  an  absurd 
ray  of  hope.]  Are  you  really  ? 

GEORGIANA.  [Looking  at  him  a  second.]  No, 
Sam,  I  suppose,  if  I  tell  the  truth,  I  don't  really 
care.  You  see,  somehow  or  other,  I  don't  care 
very  much  about  anything. 

COAST.   [Discouraged.]     Good-by. 

GEORGIANA.   Good-by,  a  pleasant  journey. 

[She  turns  away.     Coast  is  about  to  go  when  he 
meets  LOUISE,  who  enters  Left. 

LOUISE.  Good  morning,  Sam.  Where  are  you 
off  to? 

[Going  to  the  sofa. 

COAST.  Chicago  first,  Lou,  and  then  Denver, 
and  eventually  —  hell,  I  guess ! 


214  HER    OWN   WAY 

[With  a  little  gulp  in  his  throat  he  goes  out 
quickly. 

LOUISE.  What's  the  matter  with  him  —  he 
hasn't  proposed  to  you  again? 

GEORGIANA.  He's  going  away,  and  he's  made 
Steve  - 

LOUISE.  [Interrupting.]  I've  just  seen  Steve, 
he's  told  me.  Steve's  coming  uptown  soon  —  to 
see  you  — 

GEORGIANA.  [Sitting  on  the  sofa  beside  LOUISE.] 
To  see  me  —  why  ? 

LOUISE.  He'll  tell  you  better  than  I  —  I  feel 
happy,  Georgiana. 

GEORGIANA.  I'm  glad. 

LOUISE.   And  I  believe  you'll  be  happy  again. 

GEORGIANA.  Thank  you,  Louise ! 

[MRS.  CARLE Y  enters  Right  and  sits  by  the  table. 

MRS.   CARLEY.  You  back,  Louise!    I'm  that 


HER    OWN   WAY  215 

tired,  shopping.  I'm  buying  everything  I  can 
think  of  we'll  be  likely  to  need  for  months. 
There'll  be  no  pleasure  buying  things  when, 
instead  of  having  them  sent  to  2  East  yist  Street, 
we  have  to  say  329  West  i43rdl 

GEORGIANA.  [Rises  and  goes  back  of  the  table.} 
Mother,  dear,  you  may  not  have  to  leave  here 
after  all ! 

MRS.  CARLEY.   What  do  you  mean  ? 

GEORGIANA.  Louise  will  tell  you.  I've  prom 
ised  to  sit  through  lunch  with  the  children 
this  morning  if  you  don't  mind,  and  it's  their 
hour. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   But,  Georgiana  — 

[She  is  interrupted  by  a  gesture  and  a  glance 
from  LOUISE  to  let  GEORGIANA  go. 

GEORGIANA.  [Sweetly.]  Yes?  Do  you  want 
me  for  anything,  dear? 


216  HER   OWN   WAY 

[LOUISE  repeats  the  gesture,  unnoticed  by  GEOR 
GIAN  A. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Oh,  no. 

GEORGIANA.  If  you  want  me  — 

MRS.  CARLEY.  No. 

GEORGIANA.  Louise,  I  told  Bella  Shindle  I'd 
help  her  get  up  an  article  this  morning  on  the 
drawing-room  and  dining  room  for  her  sister,  — 
you  know — who  has  a  friend  who  writes  for  the 
weekly  papers.  You  don't  mind,  do  you? 

LOUISE.   No. 

GEORGIANA.   Of  course,  if  you  do  mind  — 

LOUISE.   But  I  don't,  not  the  least  in  the  world. 

GEORGIANA.  [Smiling.]  Bella  says  it  will  be 
a  great  thing  for  her  sister's  reputation  —  what  she 
calls  such  a  " select"  house  as  ours  —  and  buy  her 
a  new  hat  besides.  So  I  thought  we'd  better. 

[She  goes  out  Right. 


HER    OWN   WAY  217 

MRS.  CARLE Y.  Did  you  ever  know  any  one  so 
changed?  She  hasn't  been  horrid  to  me  once 
since  he  died.  It  makes  me  feel  perfectly  dread 
ful  to  have  her  treat  me  so  nice. 

[Almost  crying,  crosses  to  Left. 

LOUISE.  Mother,  you  know  Mrs.  Coleman 
sent  for  me  just  now. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Yes? 

LOUISE.   Well,  why,  do  you  suppose? 

MRS.  CARLEY.  I  don't  know,  but  I  hope 
you'll  tell  me  that,  too,  sometime  —  what  about 
Steve? 

LOUISE.  That  must  wait,  mother  —  Dick  Cole 
man  — 

MRS.  CARLEY.  What?  Don't  tell  me  he  made 
another  will,  and  didn't  leave  Georgiana  his 
money. 

LOUISE.   No,    it's   good    news   for    Georgiana. 


218  HER   OWN   WAY 

I'm  almost  as  afraid  to  tell  you  as  to  tell  her. 
[Whispers.]  Dick  Coleman  may  be  alive,  after 
all. 

MRS.  CARLE Y.  Louise! 

LOUISE.  It  is  possible  he  was  one  of  the  three 
men  who  arrived  at  San  Francisco  nearly  a  week 
ago. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Who  were  taken  prisoners  by 
the  Ladrones  and  escaped  ? 

LOUISE.  Yes!  The  three  men  who  got  away 
from  Cebu  in  a  boat  and  were  picked  up  by  a 
German  steamer.  It  seems  more  than  probable. 
They  got  one  name  wrong  in  the  despatches,  mak 
ing  it  "Richard  Gotten"  — who  was  also  missing 
-instead  of  "Richard  Coleman." 

MRS.  CARLEY.  But  how  did  you  find  out  all 
this? 

LOUISE.   From    Mrs.    Coleman.    And    it's   all 


HER   OWN   WAY  219 

in    the   morning  paper,  and  we   never  took  the 
trouble  to  look ! 

MRS.  CARLEY.  I  read  the  society  notes  —  it 
wasn't  in  there. 

LOUISE.  Well,  the  Colemans  saw  it  and  tele 
graphed  at  once  to  Washington  for  confirmation. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Did  they  get  it  ? 

LOUISE.  Not  yet.  But  we're  all  in  the  greatest 
hopes ! 

MRS.  CARLEY.  But  if  Dick  Coleman  was  with 
those  other  men  in  San  Francisco,  why  didn't 
he  telegraph  home? 

LOUISE.  That's  the  one  thing  that  makes  still 
a  dreadful  doubt.  [Rises  and  rings  the  bell.] 
The  Colemans  are  nearly  mad  waiting  for  their 
reply  from  Washington. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  Shall  you  tell  Georgiana  ? 

[She  rises. 


220  HER    OWN   WAY 

LOUISE.  Not  till  we  are  a  little  more  certain. 
It  would  be  dreadful  to  open  the  wound  of  her 
grief  again  for  nothing.  Oh,  if  it's  only  true ! 

MRS.  CARLEY.   And  you've  seen  Steve? 

LOUISE.  Yes,  he  went  off  at  once  to  the  news 
paper  to  see  how  authentic  their  information  was, 
and  then  he  was  going  on  to  the  Colemans.  [MOLES 
enters  Left  in  answer  to  the  bell.]  Moles,  bring  me 
the  morning  paper. 

MOLES.  [Unable  to  suppress  his  excitement.] 
I've  read  it,  m'm !  We're  all  nearly  crazy  over  it 
downstairs.  Lizzie's  took  to  crying  and  can't 
answer  her  bells.  —  Is  it  true,  Mrs.  Carley? 

LOUISE.   Yes,  we  hope  it's  true,  Moles. 

MOLES.   Thank  God,  m'm,  if  you'll  excuse  me ! 

LOUISE.  But  we're  not  sure  yet,  and  you  mustn't 
let  anything  drop  before  Miss  Georgiana  till  we 
are  certain. 


HER    OWN    WAY  221 

MOLES.   No,  m'm. 

[He  goes  out. 

MRS.  CARLEY.   Oughtn't  we  to  give  Georgiana 
a  hint  to  prepare  her  in  some  way  ? 

LOUISE.   Perhaps,  if  we  do  it  very  carefully. 
MRS.  CARLEY.   It  seems  awful  to  me  not  to  tell 
her  right  out.     Of  course  we  won't  have   Dick 
Coleman's  money  to  help  live  on  now,  if  he's  back. 
LOUISE.   Never  mind  that,  mother. 

[MOLES  returns  with  the  paper. 
MOLES.   Here   is   the   paper,   m'm,   and   Miss 
Shindle  is  come  —  she  says  to  interview  the  draw 
ing-room. 

LOUISE.   Very  well  —  tell  Miss  Georgiana. 
MOLES.   Yes,  m'm. 

[Goes  out  Right.  LOUISE  looks  through  the 
paper.  MOLES  brings  in  BELLA.  BELLA 
shows  signs  of  suppressed  excitement. 


222  HER   OWN   WAY 

BELLA.  Oh,  Mrs.  Carley,  have  you  seen  the 
papers  —  isn't  it  splendid  ? 

LOUISE.  Yes,  if  it's  only  true.  We're  trying 
to  make  sure ! 

[LOUISE  finds  the  place  in  the  paper. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  [Rising.]  She  doesn't  know 
yet. 

BELLA.   Oh,  Mrs.  Carley  1 

LOUISE.  We're  waiting  to  be  sure,  and  that  we 
may  be  almost  any  minute. 

BELLA.  Mercy !  I  don't  see  how  you  can  keep 
it  to  yourself. 

MRS.  CARLEY.  You  might  give  her  a  little  hint, 
Bella,  if  you  get  a  chance. 

BELLA.  I  wouldn't  dare.  If  I  opened  my 
mouth  wide  enough  to  give  her  a  hint,  I  know  it 
would  all  burst  out ! 

LOUISE.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Carley  comes,  make  an 


HER   OWN   WAY  223 

excuse  to  leave  her,  won't  you?  We  expect  him 
to  bring  us  some  definite  news? 

BELLA.  Yes,  indeed! 

[MRS.  CARLEY  and  LOUISE  go  out  Left,  as 
GEORGIANA  comes  in. 

GEORGIANA.  [Pleasantly.}  Good  morning,  Bella. 

[She  sits  by  the  table. 

BELLA.   Good  morning,  ain't  it  a  fine  morning  ? 

GEORGIANA.  Is  it?    I  haven't  been  out. 

BELLA.  I'm  scared  to  death.  [Laughing  ner 
vously.}  I  ain't  going  to  write  the  article  myself, 
you  know.  It's  my  sister's  husband's  friend  — 
she's  real  literary  enough !  She's  got  a  typewriter. 

GEORGIANA.  One  can't  do  everything  in  this 
world,  Bella,  and  you  must  be  content  with  being 
a  real  artiste  in  your  own  profession. 

BELLA.  Yes,  I  will  say  without  boasting,  so  to 
speak,  I  don't  believe  there's  a  soul  in  New  York 


224  HER    OWN   WAY 

who  can  make  hair  go  further  and  wear  less,  than 
me!  [Laughs  heartily.]  What's  this  room?  Of 
course  it's  one  of  them  Louis,  I  suppose,  ain't  it? 
[Looks  around  the  room.]  Let  me  see,  is  it  Louis 
Eleventimes?  I  saw  Henry  Irving  in  that,  it 
was  fine ! 

GEORGIANA.  No,  Bella,  Henry  Irving  has  never 
been  in  this  room,  and  it's  Louis  XVI. 

BELLA.  Oh,  of  course!  [Writing.]  How  well 
you're  looking,  Miss  Georgiana.  Look  to  me 
kinder  as  if  you  thought  good  news  was  in  the 
wind! 

[She  glances  at  her  surreptitiously,  but  down 
again  quickly,  frightened. 

GEORGIANA.   Why,  Bella? 

BELLA.  Oh,  that's  just  my  idea,  that's  all. 
What  might  this  picture  be  ?  Shall  we  say  —  er 
—  er  —  Michael  Ange  ? 


HER    OWN   WAY  225 

GEORGIANA.  [Suppressing  a  smile.]  No,  that 
is  a  Van  Dyck. 

BELLA.  Of  course!  I  might  have  known! 
[Writing.]  This  entire  room  is  a  fine  bit,  ain't  it? 
All  Louis  —  [She  looks  back  in  her  book.]  16,  as  a 
piece,  I  suppose? 

GEORGIANA.  Yes. 

BELLA.  So  I  see!  My!  How  I  love  all  this 
kind  of  thing.  I  couldn't  live  without  a  lot  o' 
bric-a-brah  lying  around  sort  of  careless  like  and 
undusted.  These  tapestries  are  real,  I  presume? 

GEORGIANA.  Yes. 

BELLA.  I  thought  so!  I  got  a  beautiful  piece 
of  tapestry  over  my  washstand,  hand-painted, 
and  all  the  faces  and  clothes  outlined  in  chenille 
cross-stitch  by  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine  —  but 
it's  not  quite  the  same  as  yours. 

GEORGIANA.   It  must  be  very  pretty. 
Q 


226  HER    OWN   WAY 

BELLA.  Oh,  it  adds  a  touch!  Mr.  Gootch 
gave  it  to  me  for  an  engagement  present. 

GEORGIANA.  Does  Mr.  Gootch  ever  speak  of 
Mr.  Coleman? 

BELLA.  He  worships  him  —  naturally,  as  Mr. 
Coleman  got  wounded  in  both  arms  carrying  him 
to  a  safe  place !  Mr.  Gootch  says  as  there  wasn't 
a  man  in  the  regiment  braver  or  as  popular  as 
Mr.  Coleman.  Don't  you  think,  perhaps,  some 
times,  maybe,  Miss  Georgiana  — 

[She  stops  near  GEORGIANA. 

GEORGIANA.  Maybe  what  —  ? 

BELLA.   Oh,  I  dunno  —  I  — 

GEORGIANA.  [Rising  and  going  to  the  sofa.] 
Come,  Bella,  we  must  get  on  with  your  article. 

[A  pause. 

BELLA.  [Looking  about.]  Why,  you  haven't 
got  a  cosy  corner,  have  you?  And  yet  you  seem 


HER    OWN   WAY  227 

to  go  in  for  the  real  artistic !  I  don't  know  what 
my  sister  'n'  I'd  do  without  our  cosy  corner !  It 
is  draped  with  a  fish  net,  and  has  paper  butter 
flies  and  beetles  in  it !  Very  artistic !  And  she's 
got  —  well,  really  now,  I  believe  she's  got  at  least 
eleven  pillers;  counting  the  two  ticking  ones  that 
has  their  covers  come  off  at  night  for  our  bed ! 

GEORGIANA.  [Rising  nervously.]  Bella,  I  have 
some  colored  dresses  I'd  like  to  give  you  for  your 
trousseau,  if  you  care  to  take  them.  They've 
not  been  worn  very  much. 

BELLA.  Oh,  Miss  Georgiana,  of  course  I'd  take 
'em  —  only,  I  don't  know,  I  sort  of  feel  it  in  my 
bones  you'll  wear  'em  yourself. 

[STEVEN  enters  Left  suddenly.  He  tries  to  con 
ceal  his  great  excitement.  MOLES  is  with  him. 

STEVEN.  [To  MOLES.]  Tell  Mrs.  Carley  I 
want  to  see  her  here,  please. 


228  HER    OWN   WAY 

MOLES.    Yes,  sir. 

[He  goes  out  Right. 

STEVEN.  Hello,  Georgy! 

GEORGIANA.  Steve! 

STEVEN.   Good  morning,  Miss  Shindle. 

BELLA.  Good  morning,  Mr.  Carley.  I  must 
be  going  now,  Miss  Georgiana. 

GEORGIANA.  But  have  you  got  enough  for  the 
article  ? 

BELLA.  Oh,  yes,  miss  —  Louise  furniture,  the 
Van  Wyck  picture,  tapestry  effects  —  etcetra. 
Thank  you  ever  so  much.  Good-by ! 

GEORGIANA.  Wait,  I'll  tell  you  about  the  din 
ing  room. 

[She  goes  out  with  BELLA  Left,  and  LOUISE 
enters. 

STEVEN.   Louise,  it's  true! 

LOUISE.   Oh,  Steve! 


HER    OWN  WAY  229 

STEVEN.  It  was  a  press  telegram  and  has  been 
verified  by  private  wire.  Besides,  Mrs.  Coleman 
has  a  telegram  from  Dick  himself. 

LOUISE.   From  where? 

STEVEN.  From  San  Francisco,  when  the  Cole- 
mans  were  at  Palm  Beach.  Their  servants 
foolishly  mailed,  the  telegram  to  them,  and  before 
it  arrived  in  Florida,  they  were  on  their  way 
North,  coming  by  easy  stages. 

LOUISE.  [Rises.]  And  the  message  only  just 
caught  up  with  them !  Who  will  tell  her  ? 

[MOLES  comes  in  Left  with  a  note. 

MOLES.  A  note  just  come  for  you,  sir,  by  Mr. 
Coleman's  man. 

STEVEN.  We  must  break  it  very  gently,  prepare 
her  a  little  for  it  if  we  can.  [To  MOLES.]  Thanks. 
[Takes  note,  opens  it,  and  reads  it  hurriedly.]  He's 
there !  With  his  father  and  mother ! 


230  HER   OWN   WAY 

MOLES.  [Forgetting  himself.]  Oh,  sir  —  I'm 
so  glad!  Excuse  me,  sir,  but  we're  all  so  glad, 
sir  —  any  answer*  sir  ? 

[His  eyes  fill  up. 

STEVEN.  No,  only  tell  Miss  Georgiana  I  want 
to  see  her. 

MOLES.  [Who  has  to  swallow  a  lump  in  his 
throat  before  he  can  speak.]  Yes,  sir. 

[He  goes  out  Right. 

LOUISE.  [Wiping  her  eyes,  goes  to  STEVEN.] 
What  does  it  say? 

STEVEN.  [Reads  the  note.}  "Dick  and  the 
answer  from  Washington  arrived  together!" 
He'll  be  over  here  at  once  —  they  won't  keep  him. 

LOUISE.  We  must  tell  her  before  he  gets  here. 

STEVEN.  Yes. 

LOUISE.   We  must  do  it  very  carefully. 

STEVEN.   But  we  mustn't  lose  any  time. 


HER    OWN   WAY  231 

[GEORGIANA  comes  in  during  this  last  speech, 
overhearing  it.  A  movement  is  made  by 
others  on  GEORGIANA'S  entrance. 

GEORGIANA.  "Losing  time!"  Am  I  keeping 
you  from  anything?  I'm  very  sorry! 

LOUISE.  [Very  tenderly,  and  hiding  her  emotion.] 
No,  you're  not  keeping  us,  Georgy,  we  only 
wanted  to  see  you,  that's  all. 

GEORGIANA.   [Going  to  her.]    Why  ? 

STEVEN.  [Also  very  tenderly.]  Do  we  have  to 
have  a  reason  to  want  to  see  you,  isn't  that  we 
love  you  enough? 

GEORGIANA.  Yes,  but  why  do  you  speak  to  me 
like  this  ?  —  it's  very  kind  of  you  —  only  —  what 
does  it  mean? 

[Smiling  a  little  nervously,  they  hesitate. 

LOUISE.   Steve  has  news  for  you,  Georgy. 

GEORGIANA.  I  know  about  it,  Coast  told  me. 


232  HER    OWN    WAY 

STEVEN.   It  isn't  that,  Georgy. 

GEORGIANA.  What   is   it,  then?    How  serious 
you  both  look. 

[She  becomes  frightened. 

STEVEN.   This  is  good  news. 

GEORGIANA.  Good  news ! 

LOUISE.  Yes. 

STEVEN.   The  best  in  the  world ! 

GEORGIANA.   For  me? 

STEVEN.   For  you ! 

GEORGIANA.   [A    second's    pause,    she    speaks 
then  in  a  low  -voice.]    No,  it  can't  be !    It  can't  be ! 

STEVEN.  Yes,  it  is,  Georgy ! 

GEORGIANA.  No ! 

STEVEN.   Georgy !    It  is  I 

[MOLES  enters  Left. 

MOLES.   [With    voice    full    of    happy    emotion 
which  he  cannot  disguise.]    Please,  sir  — 


HER   OWN    WAY  233 

[He  hesitates. 
STEVEN.   Show  him  here,  Moles. 

[MOLES  lowers  his  head  and  goes  out. 
GEORGIANA.   Dick—? 

[She  looks  from  STEVEN  to  LOUISE.  They  all 
show  her  by  their  faces  and  movements  that  it 
is  true. 

GEORGIANA.   [Whispers.]    Dick! 
[She  stands  waiting,  breathless.     STEVEN  steals 

out  with  his  arm  about  LOUISE. 
GEORGIANA.   [Excitedly,     to     herself.]      Come! 
No,   no!    It  can't  be   true!    It   can't  be   true! 
They  killed  him,  those  brutes  out  there!    You 
told  me  so  !    Every  one  believed  it !    I  believed  it ! 
And  so  you  want  me  to  believe  he's  alive !    That 
he's  here !    In  this  house,  coming  into  this  room 
-  that  I  shall  see  - 
[She    stops    suddenly,  looking    up.     The    door- 


234  HER    OWN   WAY 

knob  of  the  door  Left  turns.    Every  nerve  in 
GEORGIANA'S  body  grows  tense.     MOLES  opens 
the  door  and  lets  DICK  pass  in  and  doses  the 
door  behind  him. 
GEORGIANA.   [Cries  out]     Dick  ! 
[DiCK  goes  towards  her,  but  stops.     She  starts 
towards  him,  stops  a  moment,  and  they  look  at 
each  other,  unable  to  speak,  —  then  she  goes  on 
slowly,  almost  fearfully,  till  she  reaches  him. 
DICK.    [Moving  to  her.]     Georgy ! 
[He  stands  before  her  with  both  arms  bandaged 

in  a  sling. 

GEORGIANA.  [Whispers.]  Dick!  [Looks  him 
straight  in  the  eyes —  he  looks  back.  She  cries 
out.]  Dick ! 

[Holding  out  her  arms  toward  him. 
DICK.  Georgy!    [He  looks  down  at  his  arms.] 
My  arms  —  I  can't  — 


HER    OWN   WAY  235 

GEORGIANA.   Oh,  Dick ! 

[And  putting  her  arms  tenderly  about  his  neck, 

she  holds  him  close,  as   he  leans  down  his 

head  and  kisses  her,  and 

THE    CURTAIN    FALLS 


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